Editorial
Biman's loss of customers
Avoid half- baked approach
The state that the national carrier is in at present it can do well without any poorly planned step. This has become only too evident from the quandary Biman finds itself in due to the enhancement of fares, which, apparently, was effected without proper homework.
The result of the hike in fare on the international routes has been loss of customers, in some cases as much as 50 percent. Even reduction by 60 percent in the new rates has not been able to recoup the loss.
We find it difficult to agree with Biman Chairman that the tariff committee had taken the decision after considering all the factors. It is very obvious that the decision to raise passenger fares has not been backed up by a thorough market study, as evidenced by the quick change of decision to cut the raise.
The poor state of the national carrier has been a matter of serious concern. It is a classic example of how a prospective and promising enterprise can be wasted due to sheer mismanagement, corruption and abysmal lack of commitment by those that are entrusted to run the airline. We fail to understand how other airlines operating in and out of Bangladesh have flourished while Biman has suffered. Can we expect an explanation by the Biman authorities as to how the number of Biman passengers has dwindled while some airlines have increased the number of flights to meet the increased demand on them?
Biman needs a thorough overhaul starting with having a management that is well versed in running an aviation industry, and no political consideration must come in in this regard; and a long term plan needs to be put in place to lift it up from the morass that Biman is in.
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