‘Aircraft too old for Saudi clearance’

Saudi Arabian authorities have denied clearance to a Boeing 747 aircraft that Biman has leased from Nigerian Kabo Air to carry Hajj pilgrims as it is ‘too old’.

Ashik Hossainbdnews24.com
Published : 7 Sept 2013, 04:59 PM
Updated : 7 Sept 2013, 05:30 PM

This aircraft, leased by the Biman Bangladesh Airlines, was supposed to carry 582 Hajj pilgrims to Jeddah on Saturday morning.

“As per Saudi regulations, no aircraft over 20 years is given flying clearance and the one leased from Kabo is 21-year old,” a Biman official told bdnews24.com on condition of anonymity.

As the aircraft did not get Saudi authorities clearance, Biman used its own Boeing 777 aircraft to carry 419 pilgrims leaving behind 163 passengers.

The Biman official hoped to get the clearance within Sunday. “As the aircraft is old so they are checking all its documents,” he said.

The Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) had blacklisted Kabo for committing defraud in renting an aircraft in 2009.

Biman’s Managing Director Kevin Steele, however, claimed the aircraft was 20 years old.

“Kabo should have applied earlier to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia for clearance earlier,” he said.

He said the GACA was closed on Saturday and will resume operations on Sunday.

Steele, Biman’s first foreign MD, said, the national flag carrier has to pay USD 11,750 per flying hour for the aircraft.

Meanwhile, Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) has expressed concern over smooth flight operation in the wake of complications on Saturday, the first day of the Hajj flights.

The platform’s chief Ibrahim Habib told bdnews24.com this was not the first time there had been problems with Kabo’s aircraft.

Former member of Biman Board of Directors, Kazi Wahedul Alam has termed leasing of aircraft from Kabo as ‘suicidal’.