Flynas, a Saudi Arabian budget passenger carrier, is awaiting approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to ferry Hajj pilgrims between Bangladesh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The gulf country’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has already permitted Flynas to carry Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims this year, while CAAB will consider the proposal subject to fulfilment of all necessary formalities (international standards, safety services, etc) by the airline.
CAAB FSR Division Director (Air Transport) AKM Faizul Haque said: “CAAB will issue the permission once the airline applies with necessary documents and the documents are found to be valid. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has sent us a letter in this regard and we have said we will consider the proposal once all formalities have been completed.”
CAAB Deputy Director Mohammad Sohel Kamruzzaman told Dhaka Tribune: “We can only think about approval after all necessary documents have been submitted; there can be no approval before that.”
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The Ministry of Religious Affairs sent the letter to CAAB after receiving a request from Saudi Arabia to add Flynas on April 27.
Currently, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudia are carrying pilgrims for the Hajj season in a 50-50 arrangement. If Flynas is given approval, it will carry passengers from the Saudi Arabian quota, while the Bangladesh quota will remain intact.
What about Bangladeshi operators?
Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudia Airlines have been exclusively offering Hajj flights in Bangladesh since 2012 as per an agreement between the two countries.
In the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the Bangladeshi private airlines GMG carried pilgrims apart from the national flag carrier, while the private airline United Airways carried pilgrims alongside Biman in 2010.
However, private airlines in Bangladesh stopped operating flights for Hajj passengers following an objection from Biman, insiders said.
Currently, there are no Bangladeshi private airlines that have the capacity to carry Hajj pilgrims, they added.
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Kamrul Islam, spokesperson for US-Bangla Airlines, told Dhaka Tribune the airline was planning to buy an Airbus to operate flights on KSA-bound routes in the near future. Once the acquisition is completed, it will seek permission to carry Hajj pilgrims next year.
According to Religious Affairs Ministry officials, the government wants to continue carrying all Bangladeshi pilgrims in its quota only through Biman.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan said that there was no plan to allow or refer to another local carrier for carrying pilgrims this year.
HAAB wants dedicated flights under Biman
Leaders of the Bangladeshi Hajj agencies have urged the government to ensure dedicated Hajj flights so that pilgrims can complete their immigration process before boarding without hassle.
Shahadat Hossain Taslim, president of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), told Dhaka Tribune that Biman had leased an AirAsia aircraft for Hajj flights last year but it was grounded at Dhaka airport for around four days, leading to sufferings for pilgrims.
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“This year, we expect Biman to operate its own dedicated flights so that Hajj pilgrims can complete their journey in a hassle-free manner,” he said, urging Biman to use its own aircraft instead of trusting third parties.
This year, a total 57,856 pilgrims from Bangladesh will be allowed to take part in the Hajj. Among them, 31,000 pilgrims will be carried by Biman and the rest by Saudia and Flynas (if the latter Saudi airline is approved).
