Biman's Dhaka-Toronto flight won't be nonstop

The much talked about Biman Bangladesh Airlines' Dhaka-Toronto flight will not be direct, considering it would be not commercially viable.

In the latest development, authorities at the national flag carrier today told The Daily Star that the long awaited flight will be operated with a stopover in a European or Asian country for getting extra passengers and re-fueling.

"Due to stopover, we will be able to refuel and will also get extra passengers from that destination which will make the route commercially viable," Dr Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal, Managing Director and CEO of Biman, told The Daily Star.

"Therefore, Biman will be able to reduce airfare on the Toronto route and the national airliner will be able to be competitive with other foreign airlines who are operating flights on Toronto route," the Biman MD also said.

Biman on March 26 operated experimental commercial direct flight on Dhaka-Toronto-Dhaka route amid criticism from different quarters as around 35 to 40 government officials, two MPs boarded the flight at the cost of public money.

Biman MD and CEO told this correspondent, calculating different variables on the basis of the "proven flight" on Dhaka-Toronto-Dhaka on March 26, they have decided not to operate direct flight on this route as it would not be commercially viable.

Asked, he said, Biman has formed a committee to identify which destination will be commercially suitable for the national flag carrier as stopover.

He, however, said they are primarily thinking about stopover either in Germany or another European country or in Tashkent.