Saudi Arabian authorities have denied clearance to a Boeing 747 aircraft that Biman has leased from Nigerian Kabo Air to carry Hajj pilgrims as it is 'too old'.
This aircraft, leased by the Biman Bangladesh Airlines, was supposed to carry 582 Hajj pilgrims to Jeddah on
Saturday morning.
"As per Saudi regulations, no aircraft over
20 years is given flying clearance and the
one leased from Kabo is 21-year old," a
Biman official told bdnews24.com on
condition of anonymity.
As the aircraft did not get Saudi authorities clearance, Biman used its own
Boeing 777 aircraft to carry 419 pilgrims
leaving behind 163 passengers.
The Biman official hoped to get the
clearance within Sunday. "As the aircraft
is old so they are checking all its documents," he said.
The Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh
(CAAB) had blacklisted Kabo for
committing defraud in renting an aircraft
in 2009.
Biman's Managing Director Kevin Steele,
however, claimed the aircraft was 20
years old.
"Kabo should have applied earlier to the
General Authority of Civil Aviation
(GACA) of Saudi Arabia for clearance
earlier," he said.
He said the GACA was closed on Saturday
and will resume operations on Sunday.
Steele, Biman's first foreign MD, said, the
national flag carrier has to pay USD
11,750 per flying hour for the aircraft.
Meanwhile, Hajj Agencies Association of
Bangladesh (HAAB) has expressed
concern over smooth flight operation in
the wake of complications on Saturday,
the first day of the Hajj flights.
The platform's chief Ibrahim Habib told
bdnews24.com this was not the first time
there had been problems with Kabo's
aircraft.
Former member of Biman Board of
Directors, Kazi Wahedul Alam has termed leasing of aircraft from Kabo as 'suicidal'.
www.trueheart2love.diydating.com
This aircraft, leased by the Biman Bangladesh Airlines, was supposed to carry 582 Hajj pilgrims to Jeddah on
Saturday morning.
"As per Saudi regulations, no aircraft over
20 years is given flying clearance and the
one leased from Kabo is 21-year old," a
Biman official told bdnews24.com on
condition of anonymity.
As the aircraft did not get Saudi authorities clearance, Biman used its own
Boeing 777 aircraft to carry 419 pilgrims
leaving behind 163 passengers.
The Biman official hoped to get the
clearance within Sunday. "As the aircraft
is old so they are checking all its documents," he said.
The Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh
(CAAB) had blacklisted Kabo for
committing defraud in renting an aircraft
in 2009.
Biman's Managing Director Kevin Steele,
however, claimed the aircraft was 20
years old.
"Kabo should have applied earlier to the
General Authority of Civil Aviation
(GACA) of Saudi Arabia for clearance
earlier," he said.
He said the GACA was closed on Saturday
and will resume operations on Sunday.
Steele, Biman's first foreign MD, said, the
national flag carrier has to pay USD
11,750 per flying hour for the aircraft.
Meanwhile, Hajj Agencies Association of
Bangladesh (HAAB) has expressed
concern over smooth flight operation in
the wake of complications on Saturday,
the first day of the Hajj flights.
The platform's chief Ibrahim Habib told
bdnews24.com this was not the first time
there had been problems with Kabo's
aircraft.
Former member of Biman Board of
Directors, Kazi Wahedul Alam has termed leasing of aircraft from Kabo as 'suicidal'.
www.trueheart2love.diydating.com
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