Biman faces aircraft crisis on domestic routes after Yangon accident

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is battling a shortage of planes following the accident involving one of its aircraft at Myanmar’s Yangon Airport on Wednesday.

The incident has triggered a crisis on several domestic routes with the flag carrier cancelling seven flights and having to ground another plane, according to Shakil Meraj, general manager (public relations) of Biman.

"An aircraft had to be grounded for repairs. Seven flights were suspended on the Dhaka to Syedpur, Sylhet, Jashore and Rajshahi routes until Monday," Meraj told bdnews24.com on Friday.

Biman opted to lease two Boeing 737 planes from ALAFCO Aviation Lease and Finance Company for six years in a bid to alleviate the crisis, he added.

One of the two planes will join Biman’s fleet on Friday while the other will be added on June 10, he said.

Biman usually operates additional flights on the domestic routes during Eid every year. Three Dash flights are operated on the Dhaka to Syedpur, Rajshahi, Barishal, Jashore, Sylhet, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar routes while Boeing 787, 777 and 737 flights operate on the Sylhet, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar routes.

The new aircraft, arriving from Qatar, will operate on the Sylhet, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Syedpur, Rajshahi, Barishal and Jashore routes, said Meraj.

At present, Biman has 13 planes, including two Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, four Boeing 777-300s, and three Dash 8s. Of the aircraft, the Boeing 737 was grounded for maintenance.

On Wednesday, a Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft of Biman from Dhaka skidded off the runway after attempting to land at Yangon International Airport amid bad weather. At least 19 passengers were injured in the incident and were subsequently hospitalised.