The national flag carrier, Biman, is set to resume operations on all domestic routes in the next two months, officials of the airline told a parliamentary watchdog Monday.
Due to a paucity of aircraft, Biman authorities suspended flight operations on domestic routes in several phases, the last being the Dhaka - Cox’s Bazar route that was closed in 2011.
Flights on the Dhaka - Chittagong and Dhaka - Sylhet routes have remained in operation.
Biman officials told the parliamentary standing committee on civil aviation and tourism ministry that it had floated tenders to procure small aircraft to operate domestic flights from Dhaka to other domestic destinations including Barisal, Cox’s Bazar, Ishwardi, Jessore, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Syedpur.
“They (Biman officials) have assured us that flights on all domestic routes would resume in the next two months. Tenders have already been floated in this regard,” Col (Rtd) Faruk Khan, the standing committee chairman, told reporters after the meeting at the parliament building.
Faruk Khan, a former civil aviation minister, said his committee had recommended that Biman operate domestic flights either with its own or hired aircraft.
GM Quader, former civil aviation minister in the last parliament, came under verbal attacks from MPs as he declined to reopen the domestic routes. He said domestic operations would not be economically viable.
United Airlines, Novo Air, Regent Airways and US-Bangla Airlines operate domestic flights as demand for domestic routes has increased. But passengers have frequently raised complaints about the service.
The standing committee discussed Biman’s failure to operate direct flights from Dhaka to London and to Kuala Lumpur—two profitable routes frequently used by Bangladeshis.
“Why should you operate loss making routes? This is not a profitable route. Rather we should focus on London and Kuala Lumpur. Bangladeshis want more direct Dhaka-London-Dhaka flights,” Faruk Khan said.
Biman has frequent delays on the Dhaka-London-Dhaka route, angering passengers who now prefer international carriers such as Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways.
Biman charges Tk93,000 for a direct return ticket from Dhaka to London and vice versa. Emirates charges around Tk130,000 and has a stopover in Dubai.
Bangladeshis have been demanding Biman’s uninterrupted service on the route. In many cases, passengers cannot get Biman tickets from sales agents, yet the planes operate with many seats vacant.
Biman sources said authorities have floated tenders several times, but the process was stalled halfway.