The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader yesterday said the performance of Biman Bangladesh Airlines is improving following its corporatisation.

Biman has set an example by successfully carrying this year's hajj passengers, breaking all previous records, he said pointing to its recent improvement in service delivery.

The minister was inaugurating a Sylhet-Dhaka-London flight of the United Airlines (BD) Ltd, a private sector airliner owned by non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs), at Zia International Airport (ZIA) here.

The United Airlines, one of the private airlines of the country, has launched a Sylhet-Dhaka-London passenger flight with a 155-seater MD-83, a USA-built plane equipped with world- standard tools.

Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan spoke as the special guest. The inaugural function was addressed, among others, by senior adviser of the United Airlines (BD) Ltd Syed Abdul Muktadir, chairman Captain Tasbirul Islam Chowdhury and chairman of board of governors of Civil Aviation Authority Air Marshal (retd) Jamal Uddin. Quader said the Biman could not perform up to the satisfactory level as the previous government did not liberalise it by giving special emphasis on quality of service.

He said he was happy with the investment by the NRBs and pledged his government's all-out support for more such investment in Bangladesh.

Faruk Khan said the launching of the private airlines has proved that an environment conducive to business has now been prevailing in the country due to the government's multifarious supports for the aviation sector.

"I do understand Bangladesh has achieved competence of doing aviation business in the international market," said Faruk.

Earlier, inaugurating the flight at MAG Osmani International Airport in Sylhet, Jatiya Party chairman and former president Hossain Mohammad Ershad said the aviation sector had to give four billion US dollar to the foreign airlines every year due to Biman's poor performance.

He listed a number of steps for development of the aviation sector including maintaining timely flight schedules and support from the government to the private sector.

Syed Abdul Muktadir said the airline has also a plan to invest Taka 2000 crore within the next couple of years side by side with adding more 10 aircraft to its fleet.

Captain Tasbirul Islam said since the inception in July, 2007, the airline has operated 1,200 flights successfully, which is higher than other airlines due to its commitment to improved service. He said they have also a plan to start Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur, Dhaka-Kathmandu and Dhaka-Bangkok routes by December next.

The United Airlines will initially operate two passenger flights in a week on Dhaka-London route on Tuesday and Saturday and depart from Dhaka at 1200hrs. The one way special fare has bee fixed at Taka 33,683 (inclusive all taxes) and return fare is US$695 (inclusive all taxes).