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Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Stock Image
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Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Stock Image
After a six-month closure due to coronavirus, the Saudi authorities have again announced the conditional operation of commercial flights on international routes. Accordingly, Biman Bangladesh Airlines also announced the schedule from September 21 with all kinds of preparations on Wednesday. But so far the Saudi authorities have not allowed Biman Bangladesh to operate flights to that country.
A notification sent by Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Thursday said it was not allowed to operate the flight. Earlier Wednesday night, the government airline also announced the flight schedule with Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, a report published Thursday in Saudi Arabia-based Arab News said many passengers left Saudi Arabia when international flights resumed on Tuesday morning.
According to a report by the UNB news agency, Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority has informed airlines about the launch of the flight. They say that those who have a valid visa and a valid Iqma (they are supposed to work in Saudi Arabia) will now be able to travel to and from Saudi Arabia.
A press release issued by Biman Bangladesh on Thursday read: “The Saudi Arabian authorities had announced the conditional operation of commercial flights to that country. Consequently, Biman took the initiative to operate the flight.
But the Saudi authorities have yet to give Bangladesh Biman permission to operate the flight. Biman will operate the flight after obtaining permission from the Saudi government. The honorable passengers who wish to travel to Saudi Arabia will be informed of the date, time, etc. in a timely manner, ”the airline said in a statement.
According to a Biman source, Bangladesh Biman Airlines operates 21 flights a week on four routes in the Middle East: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Medina.
Biman’s company secretary Busra Islam told NTV Online late Wednesday that Biman would operate flights from Dammam every Monday and Thursday starting September 21. Flights will run from Dhaka to Riyadh every Saturday, Monday and Thursday. Biman will operate the Dhaka-Jeddah-Dhaka route every Thursday starting September 24. In addition, the state airline will operate flights on the Chittagong-Jeddah-Dhaka route every Monday from September 21 and on the Dhaka-Jeddah-Chittagong route every Sunday from September 20.
When asked why two pieces of information were leaked in two days, Biman Deputy CEO Usman Noor told NTV Online on Thursday afternoon: “Saudi civil aviation authorities have announced the launch of their international flights. As a result, we also request slots to operate the flight. Then, as a general rule, we are allowed to operate flights. Consequently, we announce the launch of the flight.
“But after the announcement, we contacted the Saudi authorities again and found that Bangladesh Biman has not yet given permission to land in that country.”
The airline’s deputy general manager added: “Permission does not appear to be granted before October 1. We will operate the flight after obtaining permission from the Saudi government.
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