Demand for charter flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines has increased significantly amid the standstill situation caused by the COVID- 19 pandemic.
With this, the national flag carrier is also expected to make a healthy earning amounting to over Tk 100 crore by the end of this month. Biman also expects to continue such services and make further earnings in such a situation.
According to a Biman official, so far Biman has operated more than 50 chartered flights by which it has earned Tk 40 crore despite the prevailing situation caused by the corona pandemic globally.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Secretary Md Mohibul Haque told journalists that, “Biman’s cargo flight demand to and from various domestic and international routes has increased sharply amid ongoing COVID- 19 crisis. During the past month, Biman has earned Tk 40 crore. If this trend continues till June, it’s earning can cross Tk 100 crore.”
Another official of Biman told Bangladesh Post, “As air connectivity is totally closed around the world due to the pandemic, demand for chartered flights went skyrocketed. Hence, several countries are knocking the national flag carrier to operate chartered and cargo flights.”
Biman has also been allowed to operate a special flight scheduled to fly on June 12 with Bangladeshis living in Italy now stranded in the country. Only 265 passengers with valid Italian documents can return on this special flight. Permission has been granted to operate the flight with the assistance of the Italian Embassy in Bangladesh.
The same flight will return to the country via London on June 13, confirmed Biman's official source.
Biman CEO and Managing Director, Md Mokabbir Hossain told journalists recently that, “Apart from existing routes, Biman has operated chartered flights to new international routes. In the meantime, there are discussions underway with some countries to operate passenger and cargo-chartered flights on different international routes.”
Biman’s deputy general manager (Public Relation) Tahera Khandaker told Bangladesh Post on Saturday that, “Till now Biman has operated 40 passenger and 10 cargo chartered flights. Through another chartered flight Biman picked up 265 stranded Bangladeshi from the Maldives.”
