Friends,

In this thread, we would discuss about Bangladesh Aviation, i.e, news, pictures, flight reports (if available), and any other aviation related discussions :)

In our Bangladesh discussion forum, weve already got 4 parts of "Bangladesh Aviation" thread, but now, as this is more like an 'international' aviation thread here so we would also like to discuss about Bangladesh Aviation with all of you guys :)

Please feel free to discuss about anything or ask questions. Our Aviation expert "Iasif" (if he visits this thread) would be great to help you as well as me ;)

this is the link to "Bangladesh Aviation- part 4" from the Bangladesh section:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=896128

we hope you enjoy this thread :)

Nice one.......
personally i hope to recieve feedback and contributions from people of other forums, countries...

^^

same here :)

Bangladesh Airlines to hire 3 wide-bodied aircraft to replace DC-10s

State-controlled Biman is about to hire three aircraft including Boeing 737 from two top global financiers as it moves to accelerate retiring its aged, fuel-guzzling DC-10 planes, officials said Wednesday.

The officials said that Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd was inking agreements with the international leasing giant Global Capital Corp for the "dry lease" of two Boeing planes by December for a five-year term.

It will also take delivery of one Airbus A-310 from the International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) on dry lease that involves only the supply of aircraft.

"It's a band aid. There is no other option before us," a senior Biman official said.

The official, however, declined to disclose the financial details of the deals.

Although the lease option is a temporary solution, the official said it would help the airline authority to maintain its already stressed schedules.

"We've chosen the types of aircraft so that our pilots can get accustomed to the new generation Boeing planes," he added.

The leased aircraft is expected to strengthen the carrier's ability to replace its two DC-10 planes, which Biman officials say must be replaced by 2012.

Burdened with its depleting fleet, Biman last year signed a deal with the global aviation giant Boeing to buy four 777-300ERs and four 787-8s with an option to procure four more.

Boeing said it would deliver first four 777-300 ERs in early 2013 while the rest would be supplied in phases through 2020.

The purchase order by Biman, a public limited company since 2007, represents the largest capital investment in the country's history. It has already paid $1.54 million in booking fees from its own coffers.

A person familiar with the leasing process said Biman's earlier attempts to lease B-737 planes from Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines had failed.

Once delivered, the leased aircraft will bring Biman's fleet strength to 11, officials said.

"If delivered in time, it will help launch our new routes including Dhaka-Tripoli," another official said.

For years, Biman has suffered an image crisis, marked by sleaze, murky past, chaotic flight schedule and fuel-inefficient planes.

Fuel makes up more than 50 per cent of Biman's operating expenses, but officials said the costs soared up to 65 per cent in July last year when oil prices topped a record $ 147 a barrel.

The aircraft hiring plan, officials say, is also part of the carrier's aggressive move to polish its image and help regain its market share.

Biman, once the leader, lost out to foreign carriers, notably a few airlines of the Gulf region. It now controls less than 20 per cent of the country's rapidly growing aviation sector.

Under pressure from the huge losses, the state carrier retrenched 2,000 workers in 2007 and suspended flights to eight loss-making international destinations. It also withdrew from the domestic market, cutting four domestic routes under its restructuring drive.

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.co.../31/74848.html

manazir, pls remove this article this is full of wrong infos.......wide body, 738??????

^^
ok, here is a corrected version :D :

Bangladesh Airlines will lease 3x B777-200/200ERs by October 2009 which would eventually replace the inefficient DC-10s which are more than 25 years old!

These wide-bodied B777s would be leased from the decomissioned aircrafts from Singapore Airlines, or Cathay Pacific, or China Southern Airlines.

These aircrafts will be used to resume the suspended flights to New York (JFK), Delhi, Bangkok, Tripoli, Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt, and Tokyo. These routes were suspended by Bangladesh Airlines earlier due to shortage of aircrafts.

Also, the airline will lease an Airbus 310-300 from ILFC to use on DAC-LHR route.

Bangladesh Airlines will also lease two B737-800NGs by 2010 to use on short haul and domestic routes.

The company has ordered 4x B777-300ERs, 4x B787-8s, and 2x B737-800NGs from Boeing which would be delivered in 2011, 2015, and 2019 respectively. the order costs around $1.6 billion.

When the leased aircrafts are received, the number of aircrafts for BG would total to 11 and they will be able to operate more efficiently. :)

woot woot!
now thats what i call a perfect article, because an aviation expert has put his hands to it!

Can we get some pics? a warm way to start the forum

^^ umm bro, I dont have any pics atm :( ...... maybe you can do that :P

I've been hearing Heathrow Airport isn't too happy Biman's flights are constantly delayed and they threaten to take their slots away. Any update on this?

^^ indeed we have been discussing this in our aviation thread. However, we hear that its sort of an old news now that BG tries their best to maintain LHR schedule these days so that they dont loose the slot. But all will be well after we receive those aircrafts i mentioned earlier hopefully :)

How comfortable and reliable are domestic flights in Bangladesh? I don't know about any airlines other than Biman and GMG.

^^
well, currently there are 3 (or maybe 4) airlines operating in domestic routes in Bangladesh such as BG (Bangladesh Airlines), GMG (Z5), United Airways (4H), and perhaps (not sure if they resumed) RBA or Royal Bengal Airlines.

The domestic flights are quite good, GMG would be the best choice, aswell as United and BG. United and GMG uses Dash-8 aircrafts while BG uses F-28s, so from there, u can guess how the comfort would be in the cabins ;) .....

Although I never flew in domestic routes of Bangladesh, there are many people who chooses to fly these routes (from Dhaka to Chittagong, Sylhet etc)! but anyway, these flights are not longer than 30 mins hehe.

Oh btw, in post #6, I forgot to mention that the B777s will be leased for 4 years, i.e until 2013, by that time, we shall hopefully have the ordered 4x B777-300ERs plus 3x leased B777-200/200ERs :D

Bangladesh Airlines currently flies to only 16 destinations worldwide although it has rights to fly to 42 countries at least! Atm, it flies to Kolkata, Kathmandu, Kualalampur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Karachi, Dubai, Muscat, Riyadh, Doha, Kuwait, Jeddah, Dammam, AbuDhabi, Rome, and London Heathrow.

After receiving new aircrafts, the suspended routes shall be resumed.

The suspended routes include Delhi, Mumbai, Bangkok, Tokyo, Bahrain, Tripoli, Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Athens, and NewYork-JFK. :)

Kuwait Airways makes emergency landing at ZIA

Sun, Aug 2nd, 2009 5:58 pm BdST

Dhaka, August 2 (bdnews24.com)A Kuwait Airways flight with 229 passengers on board made an emergency landing at the Zia International Airport on Sunday immediately after taking off with engine trouble.

The director of the airport, wing commander M Saeedul Hasan Khan, told bdnews24.com that the engine problem might have developed from a collision with a bird. No-one was injured in the incident, though, Khan added.

The plane had left for Kuwait at 7:38am but returned and landed immediately.

Traffic officer of the airline Mahmudul Hassan said, "One engine of the plane developed complications after a bird came in contact with the plane."

The airline sent 30 passengers to London and five to Paris by another plane and kept the rest at hotel. Fifty-five of them will be sent to their middle-east destinations on Sunday night, according to Hassan.

But no decision has been made about the 90 who were to go to New York, the officer added.

03 August, 2009


United Airways designated to fly United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia
United Airways (BD) Limited, Bangladesh's premier and most preferred airline, will launch services to London, the capital and largest city of the United Kingdom, and Jeddah the capital city of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from Dhaka, effective November, 2009.

This will be the airline's fifth and sixth international flight from Bangladesh. The airline will launch three services a week on the Dhaka - London sector, on Tuesdays, Thursday and Sunday respectively, aboard a state-of-the-art Boeing new generation and MD83 aircrafts. With the introduction of this new flight, United Airways will fly to 7 cities in the Gulf, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah and Riyadh.

According to Capt. Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury, Chairman and Managing Director, United Airways Limited, "UK and Saudi Arabia is a very important market for United Airways on account of the large volume of traffic to the United Kingdom and Gulf Kingdom, to and from Bangladesh, and an important addition to the airline's growing international network. With the launch of our 5th and 6th international passenger service to United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia,
we are confident of our position as among the leading carriers on these sectors."

Bangladesh Aviation- part 1:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=327051

Bangladesh Aviation- part 2:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=630534

Bangladesh Aviation- part 3:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=755472

Bangladesh Aviation- part 4:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=896128

Bangladesh Aviation- part 5 (latest one):

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=926878

Here is the current info of airlines in Dhaka,


Air Arabia: Sharjah (Airbus A320)

Air-India Express: Kolkata, Mumbai (Boeing 738)

AirAsia: Kuala Lumpur (Airbus A320)

Biman Bangladesh Airlines: Abu Dhabi, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Dammam, Delhi [resumes 3 October], Doha, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jeddah,
Karachi, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, London-Heathrow, Muscat, Riyadh, Rome-Fiumicino, Singapore, Sylhet (Airbus 310, DC-10, Boeing 783, Fokker F28)

China Eastern Airlines: Beijing-Capital, Kunming (Boeing 738)

China Southern Airlines: Guangzhou (Boeing 738)

Dragonair: Hong Kong, Kathmundu (starting November 09) (Airbus A330)

Druk Air: Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Paro (Boeing 757)

Emirates Airline: Dubai (Boeing 772ER, Boeing 773LR, Airbus A330)

Etihad Airways: Abu Dhabi (Airbus A330)

GMG Airlines: Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Jessore, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, Sylhet (Dash 8, MD 82, MD 83)

Gulf Air: Bahrain (Airbus A340, 330)

Jet Airways Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai [begins 23 August] (Boeing 738)

Kuwait Airways Kuwait (Airbus A300)

Kingfisher Airlines: Kolkata (ATR 72)

Malaysia Airlines: Kuala Lumpur (Airbus A330)

Pakistan International Airlines: Karachi (Airbus A310)

Qatar Airways: Doha (Airbus A330)

Royal Bengal Airlines: Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Jessore, Sylhet (Currently out of service) (Dash 8)

Saudi Arabian Airlines: Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh (Boeing 744)

Singapore Airlines: Singapore (Boeing 772)

Thai Airways International: Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi (Airbus A330)

United Airways (Bangladesh): Barisal, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Dubai, Jessore, Kolkata, Sylhet (Dash 8, MD-82)

Yemenia: Dubai, Sana'a (Airbus 320)

Future planned airlines,

Bahrain Air- Bahrain (2009_
Turkish Airlines- Istabul (2009)
Afriqiyah Airways- Manila, Tripoli (October 2009)

^^

I thought Afriqiyah, and Turkish Airlines stopped their plans to operate to DAC?

btw bro, lil correction up there:

Druk Air doesnt have a B757, they opearte an Airbus 319/320 to DAC.
Emirates, u wrote 772ER, 773LR hahaha .....its actually, 772 (B777-200) and 77W (B777-300ER)

:)

Wider skies for private airlines

The government will reallocate the frequency of local carriers' flights from Dhaka to London to allow private airlines a wider access to global aviation.

The move comes at a time when the capacity of local private carriers to utilise opportunities is being questioned.

As part of the move, GMG Airlines and United Airways will be able to fly twice a week on the Dhaka-London route where the carriers have no flights now. Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate six flights instead of five, officials said.

The government has also planned to seek a revision of the air service agreement with Saudi Arabia to increase frequency from the existing 14 to 24 a week.

“We will request the Saudi Arabian authorities to raise the number of flights to give more options to local airlines to fly to the Middle East," Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, secretary of the civil aviation and tourism ministry, told The Daily Star.

“We are also making a policy on the distribution of flight frequency to local airlines to bring transparency in the allocation process."

Analysts are expressing doubts over the move to make room for four local private carriers -- three of which came in the last two years -- and their ability to tap the opportunities.

Most of these carriers suffer capacity constraints, such as in funds and aircraft.

Two carriers -- Best Air and Aviana Airways -- are grounded. Best Air was awarded permission to fly abroad last year. The carriers are facing regulatory restrictions to fly on safety issues. Troubled by a financial crisis, Best Air had also been forced to suspend its flights early this year.

The remaining two private carriers -- GMG Airlines and United Airways -- are still in operation.

Best Air and United Airways launched international flights in early 2008. Best Air had been aggressive in opening new routes. The airline began its first international flight to Bangkok in mid-2008 with its only leased Boeing-737-200. It had later opened flights to several new destinations, such as Bangkok, Colombo, Male, Dubai, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, by discontinuing the previous ones.

For the country's oldest private carrier GMG Airlines, which began international flights in September 2004, recent statistics are not heartening, analysts said. Last year, flight suspension plagued the carrier amid aircraft and fund shortages -- a couple of months after it began operations on the Dhaka- Dubai route.

Local airliners linked much of their inabilities to last year's global oil price hike, which also hurt the global aviation industry by dampening traffic flow.

Analysts however blamed their failures on poor planning and lack of capacity.

Earlier on several occasions, the government redistributed frequency and revised air-service agreements with different countries several times to allow these private airlines to operate in the global aviation market.

Stakeholders however said much of the attempt at frequency reallocation was due to state-run Biman's failure to utilise all the frequency because of its weak and decades-old fleet and pilferage.

The analysts said a revision in air service agreements not only opened up opportunities for more local carriers to fly abroad but also enabled a greater number of foreign carriers to enter Dhaka, increasing the pressure of competition on the existing ones.

Most of the foreign carriers now have a growing market share, as local carriers are incapable to meet demand, they added.

Analysts said the government should consider the capacity of the local carriers prior to allocating flying rights in their favour. They also said the government should frame an aviation policy instead of a frequency distribution policy.

“I don't see any rationale for framing a frequency distribution policy. The government should prepare an aviation policy to direct the aviation industry,” said Kazi Wahidul Alam, editor of aviation fortnightly The Bangladesh Monitor.

Alam also expressed doubts over the private carriers' capacity to exploit the opportunities offered by the government. “I expect our local private carriers to develop. But my concern is whether will they be able to exploit the opportunities."

“The problem is, we mostly have one-way traffic, as many travellers are migrant workers,” he said. “If local carriers could offer more onward connections, travellers may be benefited."

"Local carrier will be able to survive global competition with a 'strong financial base'," Alam said. He suggested the government allow them to fly on a trial basis. "The government should take a decision, based on their performance."

Imran Asif, an aviation consultant, echoed Alam. “The government should first see whether the airline has the capacity to operate flights, before allocating frequency. The government could do it by involving stakeholders, such as bankers,” he said.

“Otherwise, if a carrier fails to continue flights, other airlines will be affected, as it creates a bad reputation,” he said.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesig...php?nid=100585

Minister urges airlines to offer low-cost travels

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader has called upon airline operators to offer low-cost travels to both inbound and outbound travellers.

“I will request carriers to provide better services not only by maintaining schedule but also offering cheaper travel cost, which is a big factor for many travellers,” said the minister at an award giving ceremony on Friday.

The Bangladesh Monitor, an aviation and tourism fortnightly, in association with Galileo, a provider of electronic global distribution services for the travel industry, organised the function to present the award titled “Monitor-Galileo Airline of the Year 2008" at The Westin Dhaka hotel.

Airline executives, travel agents and bureaucrats were present.

Dubai-based Emirates, one of the world's biggest carriers, which offers Dhaka-Dubai and onward flights to travellers, won the Best Airline of the Year 2008 award in Bangladesh by beating two other nominees --Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways.

The organisers said the winners were selected on the basis of frequent flyers' opinion poll.

Emirates also won Best In-flight Entertainment award and Best Long Haul Airline award of the year.

It was the second consecutive year the carrier was recognised as the best airline in Bangladesh where more than 20 domestic and foreign carriers are offering flights to travellers, bulk of whom are migrant workers.

Emirates' Area Manager (Bangladesh) Hanif Zakaria received the award.

The organisers gave away a total of 12 awards under various categories with foreign carriers winning in all the segments except the domestic airline award.

GMG Airlines, the oldest domestic private carrier, got the Best Domestic Airline of the Year award by beating state-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines and non-resident Bangladeshi venture United Airways in the category.

“By declaring the winners, we are creating a sense of competition among the airlines,” said GM Quader.

Singapore Airlines won the Best Business Class Award -2008 while Etihad Airways got the Best Economy Class Award.

But the Best Inflight Meal Business Class Award 2008 went to Qatar Airways. For economy class, Malaysia Airlines won Best Inflight Meal Award.

In short-haul airline category, Thai Airways defeated Jet Airways and Singapore Airlines. Thai Airways also won the Most Favourite Frequent Flyer Programme 2008 award.

The organisers also gave away prizes to off-line airlines that provide travel services. Cathay Pacific, one of the biggest global carriers, won the Best Off-line Passenger Airline award, while Saudi Arabian Airlines clinched the Best Cargo Airline of the Year award, organisers said.

The minister said the government would like to see its entity Biman becoming a model and wining awards in such a competition.

“It is our responsibility to make Biman a model and enable it to become the best airline next year,” he said.

Among others, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Abdul Karim, Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, The Bangladesh Monitor Editor Kazi Wahidul Alam and Managing Director of Galileo Bangladesh Anis Ahmed spoke on the occasion.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesig...php?nid=100591

What you guys think about the aviation industry in Bangladesh?? Please do share your views!
Also, if any of u visited Bangladesh, please do share if any problems u faced at the airport and also, ways to improve things better.

Thankx and also, refer to post # 17 if u wanna knw more :)

I think Bangladesh is on a collision course with its aviation system. I think it goes hand in hand with the South Asian mentality of doing things haphazardly through corruption. I hope something pulls through with the new terminal in the future.

^^
ayee, so true hehe, our bloody Civil Aviation Authority is completely incompetent and fully corrupt! If you see our aviation threads (links on post # 17), u can see how we critisize those idiots! It needs a better management, then our aviation industry can boom :)

^^
ayee, so true hehe, our bloody Civil Aviation Authority is completely incompetent and fully corrupt! If you see our aviation threads (links on post # 17), u can see how we critisize those idiots! It needs a better management, then our aviation industry can boom :)

Kuwait Airways to start direct flights from Ctg soon
Our Correspondent

CHITTAGONG, Sep 3: Kuwait Airways is going to operate direct flights between Chittagong and Kuwait from October 1, 2009.

The airlines will operate two flights every Thursdays and Saturdays on the route.

Kuwait Airways will be the fourth international airline to operate direct flights from Chittagong to different cities in the Middle East.

While contacted, Manager of Kuwait Airways Chittagong office Paresh Dhar told the FE that they are going to start the flights from Chittagong very shortly

Source: The Financial Express: http://thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/09/04/78062.html