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Foreign airliners losing confidence
AMID security lapse and widespread criticism for poor service at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, another foreign airliner is going to shut its operation in Bangladesh. Obviously, it would give a bad signal to the global aviation industry with tarnishing the country’s reputation. Reports appeared in several media stated that Singapore-based airliner Scoot is scheduled to operate its last flight on Dhaka-Singapore route from HSIA on April 29 as its authorities find the route difficult to compete. When Bangladesh in terms of per capita income mesmerizes many, as the government says, at that time pulling out many airways on several grounds, including poor luggage handling, security, few boarding bridges, high jet fuel price and too much ground service cost would give wrong impression about the development.
In 2018, UAE-based Fly Dubai and Etihad Airways stopped their operations in Bangladesh. Earlier on different occasions, Oman Air, British Airways, Korean Air, RAK Airways, Air India Express, Bangkok Airways, Mihin Lanka, Gulf Airways and KLM stopped their activities in Bangladesh on various grounds, including commercial non-viability. No doubt, such a frequent pull-out of foreign airlines would have an adverse impact on the country’s aviation industry.
HSIA could be a wonderful aviation hub in the region and a connector between the East and West. But the authorities concerned put little effort into making it happen. Foreign airlines face various troubles while operating their flights in Dhaka, mostly due to the shortage of boarding bridges and the prolonged time period required for luggage handling. Marketing strategy is the prime cause that pushes the airlines to take such decision but a high charge on landing, parking, route navigation, airport security and jet fuel in the airport are the catalysts.
Apart from the security lapse, the Anti-Corruption Commission in a recent investigation has found that foreign airliners also do not get ground service at HSIA though they have to make payment for it. We must say the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh should be reformed for deracinating corruption, mismanagement and unaccountability. Otherwise, it would not possible to restore confidence of the foreign airliners. The government must take the issue seriously.
In 2018, UAE-based Fly Dubai and Etihad Airways stopped their operations in Bangladesh. Earlier on different occasions, Oman Air, British Airways, Korean Air, RAK Airways, Air India Express, Bangkok Airways, Mihin Lanka, Gulf Airways and KLM stopped their activities in Bangladesh on various grounds, including commercial non-viability. No doubt, such a frequent pull-out of foreign airlines would have an adverse impact on the country’s aviation industry.
HSIA could be a wonderful aviation hub in the region and a connector between the East and West. But the authorities concerned put little effort into making it happen. Foreign airlines face various troubles while operating their flights in Dhaka, mostly due to the shortage of boarding bridges and the prolonged time period required for luggage handling. Marketing strategy is the prime cause that pushes the airlines to take such decision but a high charge on landing, parking, route navigation, airport security and jet fuel in the airport are the catalysts.
Apart from the security lapse, the Anti-Corruption Commission in a recent investigation has found that foreign airliners also do not get ground service at HSIA though they have to make payment for it. We must say the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh should be reformed for deracinating corruption, mismanagement and unaccountability. Otherwise, it would not possible to restore confidence of the foreign airliners. The government must take the issue seriously.
