Biman Bangladesh Airlines shocked travelers when it cut all flights between Dhaka and Tokyo on July 1. Aviation experts called the move stupid and short-sighted. Bangladeshi workers living in Japan felt angry about losing their direct connection home. The airline had just brought back the route after 17 years away. Many people said Biman should have found ways to fix the money problems instead of quitting completely.
The timing looks terrible for Bangladesh since Japan promised to create 100,000 new jobs for Bangladeshi workers over five years. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus announced this major employment deal recently. Passengers must travel through other countries and spend much more time and money reaching Japan. The eight-hour direct flight made life easier for thousands of families. Aviation experts warned that starting and stopping international routes hurts the country's reputation.
Biman's CEO Shafiqur Rahman said each Tokyo flight lost about 95 lakh taka. The airline flew 225 times between September 2023 and March 2024. Those flights carried 84,674 passengers with 69 percent of seats filled. Total losses reached 215 crore taka during that period. The airline also blamed pilot shortages and aircraft problems for the cancellation decision.
Former board member Kazi Wahidul Alam compared the decision to cutting off your head to cure a headache. He said major airlines keep important routes running even during tough financial times. Another expert criticized Biman for depending on government help instead of growing like private competitors. Bangladeshi communities in Japan hope officials will find solutions to restore this important air connection.
The timing looks terrible for Bangladesh since Japan promised to create 100,000 new jobs for Bangladeshi workers over five years. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus announced this major employment deal recently. Passengers must travel through other countries and spend much more time and money reaching Japan. The eight-hour direct flight made life easier for thousands of families. Aviation experts warned that starting and stopping international routes hurts the country's reputation.
Biman's CEO Shafiqur Rahman said each Tokyo flight lost about 95 lakh taka. The airline flew 225 times between September 2023 and March 2024. Those flights carried 84,674 passengers with 69 percent of seats filled. Total losses reached 215 crore taka during that period. The airline also blamed pilot shortages and aircraft problems for the cancellation decision.
Former board member Kazi Wahidul Alam compared the decision to cutting off your head to cure a headache. He said major airlines keep important routes running even during tough financial times. Another expert criticized Biman for depending on government help instead of growing like private competitors. Bangladeshi communities in Japan hope officials will find solutions to restore this important air connection.
