Biman spreads its wings to Madina
Process is underway to spread Biman’s wings to another five international destinations including Manchester, Tokyo and New York by next year, State Minister for Civil Aviation Mahbub Ali said yesterday.
The junior minister said this while inaugurating Dhaka-Madina direct flight at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Madina is the second destination in Saudi Arabia after Jeddah.
“Another step to extend Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ network has been implemented today through inauguration of Dhaka-Madina flight,” Mahbub Ali said.
He also added that the ministry and other respective organisations are working to initiate Biman flights to Manchester, Tokyo, New York, Colombo and Male by 2020.
With Madina, the number of international destinations of the flag carrier is now 16, Biman sources said.
The state minister said the government has taken the decision to establish direct air connectivity with Madina because of the increasing number of pilgrims.
Besides, he said, the new route will also benefit a large number of Bangladeshi expatriate workers who are residing in Saudi Arabia.
Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary Mohibul Haque said Biman will have to concentrate on the aviation market in the Middle East, as there are significant prospects there.
Biman Board Chairman Air Vice Marshal (retd) Muhammad Enamul Bari, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, and Biman Managing Director and CEO Mokabbir Hossain, among others, also spoke at the programme.
The national flag carrier will operate flights on Dhaka-Madina-Dhaka route three days a week -- Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Additionally, it will ply on the Chattogram-Madina-Chattagram route every Thursday.
Biman deployed its newly purchased Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with a capacity of 271 seats, including 24 business and 247 economy, to operate the flights to Madina.
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