Passengers in the lurch as Biman pilots continue protests

Hundreds of passengers continued to suffer for a third day as Biman cancelled or delayed several flights to different destinations after pilots baulked at flying planes.
The airline authorities served notice on four pilots for holding a press conference last week, defying an official order.
Biman cancelled a Dhaka-Chittagong flight yesterday after failing to persuade any pilot to fly the F-28 aircraft, officials said. In Dhaka and Chittagong, 160 passengers had to cancel their travel plans.
Failure to get pilots to fly delayed a flight to Kathmandu from Dhaka by two and a half hours yesterday.
Also, a Dhaka-Bahrain-Kuwait flight was delayed for more than two hours. To maintain flights on the route, the airline lined up one of its old fuel guzzlers, DC-10 aircraft.
Biman also put another DC-10 plane in place to carry Kuala Lumpur-bound travellers after the designated pilots refused to fly planes, insiders said.
The Kuala Lumpur-bound flight was scheduled to depart Dhaka at 10pm yesterday to transport passengers. As many as 153 passengers had been stranded since Friday in Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur.
It was the third day of agitation being staged by Bangladesh Pilots Association (BAPA), which disrupted a number of flights of the national carrier, causing inconveniences to travellers.
Biman insiders said most flights disruptions were caused by the designated pilots reporting sick.
Pilots' protests started since October 22, as they demanded the airline authority withdraw an order on service age ceiling enhancement from 57 years to 62, leaving the pilots conditionally out of insurance and rehabilitation benefits during the extended period of service.
Referring to an agreement between BAPA and Biman, the pilots said they would not fly more than 70 hours a month and more than two consecutive nights. They demanded eight holidays a month.
Pilots usually fly less than 70 hours a month, according to Biman data.
Prior to the protests, pilots had worked for Biman without adhering to the provisions of the agreement.
Biman insiders fear that if the protests continue, the national carrier will be forced to cancel many flights in the coming days.
To pacify pilots, the Biman management yesterday served notice on four pilots for holding a press conference despite restrictions. The conference focused on retirement age enhancement, an issue now pending with the Supreme Court.
The pilots who face notices are: BAPA acting President Captain Zakir Hussain, General Secretary Captain MA Basit Mahtab, BAPA Executive Committee member first officer Shahrier M Farazi and its member Captain AM Maqsood Ahmed.
The pilots have 96 hours to explain reasons.