Situation regarding hajj flights tough, but not uncontrollable: Biman

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DHAKA, Aug 9, 2017 (BSS) – Biman Bangladesh Airlines today termed the current situation regarding hajj flight operation ‘tough and challenging, but not unmanageable’ amid cancellation of 19 dedicated hajj flights, including today’s two, in the last two weeks.

“The situation is quite tough, but not uncontrollable … it’s challenging. Still, I am hopeful of carrying all the intending pilgrims. We will do whatever need to do to overcome the situation,” Biman’s Managing Director and CEO Mosaddique Ahmed told journalists at a jam packed press briefing at the national flag carrier’s headquarters Balaka in the capital.

Explaining the intensity of the situation, he said Biman is scheduled to operate 12 dedicated hajj flights in the next three days but out of these, three flights are at a risk of cancellation.

However, he said, “I would like to request the intending pilgrims not to be afraid. We hope the situation will not be deteriorated further. If all the stakeholders are cooperative, we can overcome the situation,”

Mosaddique said Biman has already lost Taka 40 crore as revenue due to the cancelation of 19 dedicated hajj flights.

“I don’t like to say that it’s a loss as we don’t operate hajj flight for business, but I can say we missed an opportunity to earn revenue of Taka 40 crore.”

Biman Bangladesh Airlines was forced to cancel the flights due to lack of passengers as the pilgrims of those flights yet to get visa. The total capacity of those flights was 9,887.

So far, Biman has carried 24,115 pilgrims where as it is suppose to carry 34,798 pilgrims till today.

“As per our current hajj flight schedule, we got capacity short fall of 4,687,” he said, adding “To carry this 4,687 pilgrims, those were not able to fly due to different complications, we have to operate 14 more hajj flights apart from our current scheduled hajj flight operation design.”

Mentioning that Biman had applied to the Saudi Arabia authority to allocate it 14 more slots, Mosaddique said, “They (Saudi authority) have already approved us 14 slots, but not as per our schedule. We can’t operate more than 7 or 8 flights from those new slots due to lack of aircraft.

“We will ask to Saudi Authority to allocate us more slots to carry all the pilgrims. I am hopeful to get the slots to carry all pilgrims,” Biman’s CEO said.

Answering to a query, the Biman chief identified lack of coordination among the Bangladeshi hajj agencies in renting houses for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia as the major reason behind the complication.

He said Biman would demand compensation from those hajj agencies who were responsible for flights cancellation.

This year, the number of intending pilgrims is 127,198. Of them, Biman is scheduled to carry 63,600 pilgrims while rest 63,600 by Saudi Airlines which also cancelled four flights so far due to shortage of passengers.

Biman’s Director Flight Operation Farhad Hasan Jamil, Director Marketing and Sales M Ali Ahsan and General Manager Public Relations Shakil Meraj and other high officials were also present at the press briefing.