Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited has completed preparation to operate Hajj flights with its own aircraft by decreasing flight frequency on other routes, said state minister for civil aviation and tourism Md Mahbub Ali on Monday.
\nHe said that Bangladesh Biman was ready to launch special flights for Hajj accordingly on May 31.
\n\u2018We want to start flight on May 31 if Hajj agencies are ready to send Hajj pilgrims,\u2019 he said after visiting Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
\nThe minister said that Biman would operate flights with its own aircraft this year cancelling flights to other destinations.
\nWith only 21 aircraft in its fleet, Bangladesh Biman had usually to lease planes from elsewhere to operate Hajj flights.
\nBiman managing director Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal said that after Hajj package was declared, jet fuel price increased by Tk 6 a litre, and if it continued, Biman might rethink about the airfare for Hajj passengers.
\nBiman would operate 65 flights to carry the pilgrims while the rest by Saudia Airlines.
\nThe state minister also asked the airport authorities to ensure quality services for passengers eradicating all sorts of harassment.
\nHe claimed that the overall service of the airport had improved a lot, and people would have to suffer a little until the ongoing renovation work was done.
\nTo improve the ground handling services, the government has taken initiatives as the airport is struggling with 21,000 passengers daily, said the junior minister.
\n\u2018Now there is no scope of any luggage theft, but it needs time to ensure quality services,\u2019 he said.
\nBiman MD Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal said that they had invested twice \u2013 Tk 80 crore and again 22 crore \u2013 to improve ground handling.
\n\u2018We have invested a considerable amount of money while the setting up of equipment is in the pipeline; so benefit will come after certain time,\u2019 he pointed out.
\nThe deputy minister added that they had put all ports including airports on Monkeypox alert; all passengers were screened and observed upon their arrival.
\nCivil aviation and tourism secretary Md Mokammel Hossain, CAAB chairman Md Mofidur Rahman, Biman Bangladesh Airlines board chairman Sajjadul Hassan, CAAB member Abu Saleh Mahmud Mannafi and Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport\u00a0executive director Muhammed Kamrul Islam, among others, were present during the visit by the state minister.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited has completed preparation to operate Hajj flights with its own aircraft by decreasing flight frequency on other routes, said state minister for civil aviation and tourism Md Mahbub Ali on Monday. He said that Bangladesh Biman was ready to launch special flights for Hajj accordingly on<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[1687,8966,199,14332,6685],"yoast_head":"\n