Biman Bangladesh Airlines however improved its performance last year in terms of international passenger carrying.

The total number of incoming and outgoing passengers of international flights last year was 23,34,111 as against 22,58,315 in 2002, according latest figure released by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (Caab).

Sources said due to high jet fuel cost, poor passenger volume, high ground handling charge, poor infrastructure facilities and bureaucratic delay to get permission discouraged some foreign airlines to operate in Bangladesh.

In 2003, a total of 12,66,817 passengers flew from Bangladesh and 10,67,294 passengers arrived by international flights operated by Biman and foreign airlines.

Caab sources said the passenger growth was 3.48 percent in 2002, contributed largely by 16 foreign airlines operating in Bangladesh. But their (foreign airlines) growth declined to 2.85 percent in 2003 as Silkair, Phuket Air and Indian Airlines stopped operation from Chittagong and Omar Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways from Dhaka.

However, Phuket Air and Uzbekistan Airways resumed their operation in early 2004.

Bangladesh Biman improved its passenger growth performance in 2003 thanks to the start of international operation from Chittagong and Sylhet. The national flag carrier registered 3.83 percent growth in 2003, up from 2.45 percent in 2002.

Biman has flights to Kolkata, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates from Chittagong while it operates flight to London from Sylhet.

Caab officials attributed the growth slide to winding up of operation by some foreign airlines last year but they hoped that the situation would improve this year as few of the foreign airlines have resumed operation.

Apart from Phuket Air and Uzbekistan Airways, Pakistan International Airlines resumed its operation earlier this year after a two-year suspension. Yemenia, an airline of Yemen, is expected to launch operation soon.

Biman fared well in air passenger traffic in comparison with foreign airlines. It hosted 41.02 percent of the total international passengers in 2003, up from 40.77 percent in 2002 while foreign airlines held 58.98 percent market last year from 59.23 percent in 2002.

Biman handled 41.21 percent of total international passengers in 2001, 38.59 percent in 2000 and 38.79 percent in 1999 while foreign airlines carried 58.79 percent, 61.41 percent and 61.21 percent respectively.

According to Caab, Saudi Arabian Airlines carried 3,44,318 passengers to and from Bangladesh in 2003, Emirates 2,57,886, Thai Airways 1,50,125, Gulf Air 1,42,975, Singapore Airlines 90,671, Qatar Airways 1,07,936, Kuwait Airlines 75,284, Malaysian Airlines 69,988, British Airways 74,198, Indian Airlines 18,402, Iran Air 23,796, Dragon Air 17,779 and Druk Air 3,350.