Biman urged to apply for DAC-NY flight soon: CAAB Chairman

Dhaka: Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been urged to apply for Dhaka-New York direct flight operations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States of America as soon as possible.

Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, said this to The Bangladesh Monitor during an interview held at CAAB head office in the capital on July 19.

The first step to resume direct flights on Dhaka-New York route is Biman getting permission for flight operation from the FAA. However, Biman is late to apply, mentioned the CAAB Chairman.

Hence, the flag carrier has been informed to expedite the process of applying for flight operation permission to the FAA, stressed Mafidur Rahman.

Meanwhile, CAAB continues its efforts to upgrade Dhaka Airport to Category-1 status and the progress looks promising, further expressed Rahman.

Once Biman applies to the FAA, in the next step, the latter will assess if Dhaka Airport is qualified for Category-1 status.

The US-based plane-maker Boeing is also assisting CAAB to this purpose, shared Rahman.

It may be mentioned here, Biman had operated Dhaka-New York flights between 1993 and 2006, prior to its suspension due to losses.

Afterwards, the FAA placed Dhaka Airport in Category-2 status once it found irregularities in its operational activities during an investigation in 2006.

Such categorisation placed additional restrictions on Bangladesh's airlines flying to the USA, including the resumption of direct flights between the nations.

A Category-1 rating means the civil aviation authority of a state complies with ICAO standards.

Once approved by the FAA, direct flights between the nations will be underway, concluded the Chairman of CAAB.