The Boeing 747 aircraft that Biman has leased from Nigerian Kabo Air finally took off for Jeddah after Saudi Arabian Civil Aviation Authority (GACA) gave the clearance.
The national flag carrier Biman was supposed to inaugurate its hajj flight on Saturday with this aircraft. But as the aircraft did not get GACA approval because Saudi Arabian authority considered it as too old, the Biman started the Hajj flight with one of its own aircrafts.
The Kabo Boeing 747 got Saudi approval on Sunday evening.
Kevin Steele, Managing Director of Biman told bdnews24.com, “The aircraft took off for Jeddah with 578 pilgrims at 10:50am Monday.”
Biman officials said, its own Boeing 777 aircraft also took off for Jeddah at 12:40pm.
Besides, Biman is also scheduled to send 419 more pilgrims on another Boeing 777 aircraft on 4:30pm.
Kevin Steele said, “We have 2 DC-10 aircrafts on standby as well.”
State-owned Biman’s officials said the Boeing 747 aircraft was having problems getting clearance because of its age.
Biman leased the 582-seater Boeing 747 aircraft from Nigerian Kabo Air, which arrived in Dhaka on Friday evening.
But as it had not got GACA approval, Biman arranged an alternative flight with its own Boeing 777 aircraft, which took off for Jeddah with 419 pilgrims on Saturday. As a result, 163 pilgrims found themselves stranded.
Moreover, 314 pilgrims, who were scheduled to fly in the Boeing 747 On Sunday, left for Jeddah on Biman’s DC-10 aircraft. As a result, 268 pilgrims failed to leave for Jeddah.
The Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) had blacklisted Kabo for committing a fraud in renting an aircraft in 2009.
Source: Bd news24