Biman to connect China

National flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines has decided to soon start operating in China.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 2 Oct 2013, 11:22 AM
Updated : 2 Oct 2013, 11:22 AM

It’s MD, Kevin Steele told bdnews24.com, Biman would start flying to China from April next year.

“From April 2014, we are hoping to start twice weekly flights to both Guangzhou and Kunming.”

But Biman did not get its flights slots yet, he said.

According to the agreement between Bangladesh and China, the two countries can operate 16 flights per week to both countries.

Though no Bangladeshi Airlines operate flights to China, but two Chinese Airlines China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines operate flights to Dhaka.

China Southern operates in Guangzhou-Dhaka route and China Eastern operates in Kunming-Dhaka route.
But according to Kazi Oahedul Alam, former Biman Board director and aviation expert the decision could be ‘boomerang’ for Biman.
He told bdnews24.com, “Though Biman opened route to some popular destinations such as Delhi and Bangkok, they could not earn profit. Inaugurating flights to two new destinations could incur loss.”
“Already two Chinese Airlines operate flights to these destinations. Biman doesn’t have any marketing strategy to compete them. On the other hand twice weekly flights will not be commercially viable.”