Biman reduces flights on int'l routes over losses, passenger crisis

Dhaka : Biman Bangladesh Airlines has reportedly reduced flight frequencies on five international routes over financial losses and a decline in passenger numbers.  As per reports, the flag carrier has cut flights to the UK's Manchester and Japan's Narita, due to financial losses on the routes.

Reports cited a Biman official saying, weekly flights to the UK's Manchester have been reduced from three to two, effective late October. Similarly, fight frequencies to Narita have also been cut from three to two a week, added reports.

Industry stakeholders have blamed Biman's inefficiency and mismanagement as well as the lack of promotion and marketing strategies to be the reasons behind the carrier's failure in attracting passengers and making the routes financially rewarding.

Reports further mentioned, only 11 out of 21 international routes of Biman are currently successful, meaning making profits-London, Toronto, Dubai, Jeddah, Madina, Riyadh, Dammam, Bangkok, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

The airline is suffering from operational losses on six international destinations including Manchester, Kuwait, Delhi, Kolkata, Guangzhou and Narita. However, the remaining four international routes-Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Doha and Sharjah-are gradually becoming profitable, informed reports.

Meanwhile, flight frequencies to India's Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai have also been reduced over passenger crisis on the routes, following India's tightening of visa issuance since August when the former prime minister escaped to the neighbouring nation.

Due to a staggering decline in passenger numbers, Biman has cut its weekly flights to Kolkata from 14 to seven. Flights to Delhi and Chennai have also been reduced from seven to three weekly each.