Biman Bangladesh Airlines will double the frequency of its Dhaka-Kolkata flights and begin flights on Chittagong -Kolkata route by November using two turbo-propeller aircrafts expected to arrive soon, said Biman officials. ‘We would connect Dhaka and Chittagong with Kolkata when I get the delivery of two turboprop jets which are expected to add to the fleet by October. This should happen by November,’ Biman managing director Kevin Steele told New Age.
Biman is, however, yet to get good response from companies for the lease of the turboprops, officials said.
Biman invited bids on June 10 to lease two 50 seated turboprops.
It invited the bids again on July 9, as only two companies had expressed willingness in the first bidding.
Biman, however, had to go for another round of rebidding on August 29 as none responded to the second bidding, the officials said.
Biman flies five times a week from Dhaka to Kolkata and twice to New Delhi and it would operate five more flights on Dhaka-Kolkata route, he added.
He also said that Biman was looking at leasing more Boeing and Airbus planes. Two new Boeing-777-300ERs would be added to the fleet in February or March 2014.
According to the bilateral treaty of operating the number of flights between Bangladesh and India, Bangladeshi airlines can operate about 62 flights to India a week and Indian airlines can also operate the same number of flights, Biman officials said.
Bangladeshi airlines cannot take a firm position in the Indian market as they do not have adequate aircrafts, the Biman officials said.
At present, four airlines of Bangladesh and India are operating direct flights between the two countries. Biman Bangladesh Airlines and United Airways operate 17 flights a week.
On the other hand, India’s Jet Airways and Air India operate about 34 flights a week.
Bangladeshi airlines cannot grasp the Indian market due to geographical reason and Indian airlines carry Bangladeshi passengers not only to India but they give them transit benefit and ferry them to Middle East and other destinations, a Biman official said.
Biman cannot provide benefits to Indian passengers, as it does not have flights to those international destinations, he added.
Biman officials said that Biman had decided to buy two small planes in March for resuming flights on domestic routes, but cancelled the decision due to financial crisis.
Instead, Biman decided to take lease of two 50 seated turboprops, called for bids on June 10 and only two companies expressed their willingness, the officials said.
-With New Age input
