Biman’s Boeing 747 aircraft, leased from Nigerian airlines Kabo, has got clearance from Saudi Arabia to fly Hajj pilgrims. The aircraft is likely to leave, at 7:40 am, for Saudi Arabia, with 582 pilgrims, a source said. The newly acquired aircraft could not join Biman’s Hajj flight schedules on the opening day, causing immense sufferings to pilgrims.It was supposed to fly on the second day, which was also cancelled, because of non-availability of requisite clearance.
To tackle the situation, Bimanfinally pressed its own Boeing 777 into service on Saturday, for the inaugural Hajj flight. Bimanauthorities, a source said, were trying relentlessly to have the clearance from authorities in Saudi Arabia, and, at last, got the same on Sunday night. “We got the clearance at 8 pm today,” said a senior official of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
According to sources, a total of 2048 pilgrims have already left the country for Saudi Arabia by six flights. The seventh flight, carrying some 419 pilgrims, is likely leave the country at midnight on Sunday.
Most of the pilgrims were carried by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, while some 260 were carried by a schedule passenger flight of Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), on Sunday. The regular Hajj flights of Saudiawill begin services from September 10.
The first Hajj flight was supposed to carry 582 passengers on a Boeing-747, leased from Kabo. The aircraft arrived on Friday evening, but it could not fly as it failed to get clearance from the Saudi Arabian civil aviation authority (GACA). As a result, Biman had to use another Boeing aircraft, with a capacity of 419 passengers, to manage the first flight. On the first day, a total of 955 pilgrims left the country, on three flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
On the other hand, relatives of many pilgrims expressed their discontent with Biman’s flight operations. Apologising for the mismanagement, Biman’spublic relations department issued a press release on Saturday, saying that as per contract, Kabo Air was supposed to get the clearance from the Saudi authorities, before delivering the aircraft to Biman.
The Boeing-747 is scheduled to operate to Jeddahfrom Saturday, after getting the clearance from the GACA, added the release. The Kabo did not get the clearance, as it failed to obtain “no objection” and insurance certificates.
-With The Independent input
