Hajj flight plans in limbo

Private agencies and official are worried over slow-decision making by Biman. Ashik Hossain reports

Ashik Hossain

bdnews24.com Correspondent

Dhaka, Aug 1 (bdnews24.com) – Biman Bangladesh Airline is yet to make a final schedule for the hajj flights with barely a month before the largest annual Islamic congregation begins.

Many officials, especially from private travel agencies, are concerned that devotees and travel agencies will face trouble for the complexities over the schedule.

They have blamed Biman for any possible chaos and urged authorities to act quickly.

"We have only one month left. But Biman is yet to give any decision on hajj flights. They have sought a week more. We'll have to face trouble to rent houses in Mecca and Medina," said Jamal Uddin, the President of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (Haab).

On Jul 18, a meeting at the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry decided to run hajj flights from Sep 17 to Oct 20. The flights to bring back the devotees will be operated from Oct 30 to Nov 29, the meeting decided.

Biman said in the meeting that its first flight from Dhaka to Saudi Arabia will fly on Sep 21 and the last flight will be on Oct 22. The Biman flights to carry back the devotees will be conducted from Nov 1 to Dec 2.

The possible date to hold the hajj this year is Oct 26. A total of 112,515 Bangladeshis will have the opportunity to take part in the hajj under government and private arrangements.

Of them, Biman will carry 56,500 devotees, Saudia 40,000 and other airlines will carry the rest.

Biman, Saudia and the other airlines approved by Saudia were asked in the meeting to submit their flight schedule and work plan within a week.

HAAB President Jamal said they remained clueless over the third carrier usually hired by Biman as it is incapable of managing the load.

Former Biman Director Qazi Wahedul Alam echoed Jamal.

"Renting houses will be the main problem. It will be very difficult to rent houses in Mecca or Medina even after offering high rates if they are not decided during Ramadan. The devotees will suffer," he said.

He said the fate of many Bangladeshis willing to perform hajj would be uncertain if the issues were not immediately sorted out.

Biman Director (Marketing and Sales) Mohammad Shahnewaz said: "We've already submitted our proposed schedule. The other airline companies will submit their proposals within 15 days of Ramadan. The ministry will give the final approval considering everything."

Asked when the ministry would give the approval, he says, "Chances that it will happen before the Eid-ul-Fitr are slim."

Asked whether a third carrier would be hired to carry the devotees, he said, "We've decided that no airlines other than Biman and those in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to carry the devotees this year. In that case, Biman will carry half the passengers while the Arabian airlines will carry the rest."

He said the Saudi Arabian Airlines – Saudia – will carry 33,000 to 40,000 passengers and other private Arabian airlines approved by it will carry 15,000-20,000.

"Biman is trying to ensure that the passengers don't suffer. I hope there'll be no problem."

According to Biman officials, the national flag carrier plans to use its two Boeing 777s and a rented Boeing 747 for carrying the devotees along with the scheduled flights.

Talks to hire three Boeing 747-400 ERs only to carry the devotees are underway, they say.

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