The visits of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to New York on chartered flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines for two consecutive years is widening the scope for Biman to operate regular flights on this route, the people concerned think.
According to sources, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the United States visited Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) earlier this year and expressed satisfaction on overall security measures. Soon, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), the regulator of US airspace will visit for their final audit.
On condition not to be named, another source at Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) informed that the CAAB Chairman is scheduled to join ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) to be held from September 27 to October 7 this year. There he will have a meeting with the FAA from which a new way will come out for regular flight operation there.
On August 18 this year, State Minister of Aviation and Tourism Md. Mahbub Ali during the flight operation inauguration on Dhaka Guangzhou route said Biman is expanding its wings on new international routes. Biman will be operated on the Dhaka-New York route soon. Discussions are going on regarding this.
Earlier the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism announced that it will take all measures as per the requirements of the FAA to upgrade from Category 2 to Category 1. The ministry is hoping that a positive decision will come in this regard very soon.
Efforts have been going on for several years to restore the category-1 status. As part of that effort, Biman has also bought 12 new generation aircraft from US manufacturer Boeing. Security has been strengthened at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).
Earlier, on July 30 this year, in a tweet message, the ambassador of Bangladesh appointed to the United States Md. Shahidul Islam said that he discussed with US department of transport assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs Carol Annette Annie Petsonk to restart flight operation on the Dhaka-New York route. The meeting was fruitful regarding resumption of the flight on this important route to enhance the P2P and B2B relations between Bangladesh and USA.
Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen expressed the hope that the Dhaka-New York route will resume flights. AK Abdul Momen while talking to reporters about the overall activities of the Prime Minister at the 2021 UN General Assembly 76th session and other high-level sideline events said that the US Federation Aviation Authority allowed Biman (the flight carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage on Sunday, 19 September 2021) to land at John F Kennedy Airport, New York. So, he hopes Biman can start its operations on Dhaka-New York route in future.
Bangladesh’s security system is relatively better than before. CAAB and Biman Bangladesh Airlines are optimistic about starting flight operations soon. Biman is considering Dreamliner aircraft for operating flights on the Dhaka-New York route.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines started the process of operating flights from Dhaka to New York in the United States in 2020 after being closed for 14 years. Due to the pandemic, this initiative to start flights has been postponed several times.
Finally the stalled process started again. As part of that process, a three-member US delegation visited Dhaka to see the security arrangements of HSIA. On February 27 this year, they had a meeting with the CAAB.
During their stay till March 2, they observed all activities including flight operation system, passenger security, duty procedure of airport staff, scanning, ground handling and others.
