<i>Biman- what a home in the air! </i>
I am an expatriate, resident in Muscat, Oman for a few years along with my younger brother. We live in the vicinity of the Airport. Sight of Biman aircraft in the sky used to thrill my heart with emotion and take me back to my home. I had approached Moon Travels and Al- Darwish Travels in Muscat for booking two seats on BG 024/29th December,2007. Both the travel agents flatly said that the flight was closed. My younger brother was to get married at home. So we were desperate for seats for travelling home at any cost. However, Darwish Travels gave in after serious persuasions and booked our seats. We were relieved and more so, when I was told that though it was printed 24kgs on our flight coupons but in reality we would be allowed 40kgs each as baggage incentive. But soon we felt demoralized when we were told that on our return flights we would not be allowed to carry more than 24kgs each. I told them it was irrational and not a consistent policy of the Airline. Why should the Airline be fussy with baggage weights these days when Airliners have tremendous capacity to carry tons of loads and this was one way the Airline could woo more passengers while losing almost nothing in return. Obviously the travel agent had no answer. After boarding the aircraft, I was taken aback when I found out that only 135 passengers were on board. Due to disturbance in Pakistan the aircraft over flew Karachi, but I was not sure if the flight was over booked ex Karachi, if not then it was regrettable since the agents tried to trick us for personal gains. The flight was delayed by 40 minutes only ex Muscat though by Biman standards I presume the flight departure was on schedule. I was frustrated to notice the cabin set up. Seats were too old and the cabin interior did not look smart and tip top like any other carrier, rather looked shabby as if it was one of the poorest and most mismanaged Airlines in the world. The rows of seats were too close as if the Airline did not bother to abide by the minimum standard of seat pitch. The meal tray used to fall on my stomach and remained tilted on one side. I had to struggle and negotiate while consuming my meal. Movement in between the row was cumbersome. Except the meals there was no other amenity on board the aircraft. Even the aircraft toilets lacked proper toiletries. It was quite a different experience this time considering my past experiences with Biman. The passengers were grumbling and became very critical of the National Airline and its management. It appeared as if an amateur was heading this Airline and not a professional. Shouldn't the Govt. be concerned and hand over the steering to some one capable who has had enough of aviation and airline experience? After all, airlines business is the most glamorous, luxurious, highly internationally competitive and one of the most complicated and costliest businesses. The amateurs only go by the advise of a few self seeking sycophants thus ruining the Airline further day by day. Incidentally a friend of mine who travelled by an extra flight BG 1022 of 20th March also narrated similar experience with the Moon Travels but found only 8 passengers were on board the flight. Shouldn't the sales executive of Biman at Muscat be monitoring these unscrupulous agents and take them to task? May I draw the kind attention of the special assistant to the chief adviser for civil aviation to the above?
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