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Zahid Hossain, the newly appointed Bangladesh Biman Airlines Managing Director and CEO, has vowed to increase the national flag carrier’s annual turnover to $1 billion from $700.
The plan combines all elements, including satisfactory passenger service, business strategy, and potentiality, he said at a press briefing at Biman’s head office on Thursday.
He noted that all necessary steps would be taken to establish Biman as a commercial enterprise, and offer satisfactory passenger services.
“In order to achieve our target, we need to expand our business by operating flights on profitable routes and ensure better passenger services,” said the Biman CEO.
Zahid Hossain later pointed out that several passengers have complained about Biman’s services.
“We won’t politicize it, but we also will not do business without maintaining the highest standards of passenger service,” he added.
He added that Biman has also set a plan to carry 3 million passengers next year, if it can maintain its current market share of 24.6%.
Currently, US Bangla dominates 45%, NovoAir 36% while Biman only penetrates 19% of the domestic market and carries approximately 5,50,000 passengers in a year, sources said.
“Despite Biman being a state entity, we will adjust our business policies in order to make a profit while ensuring that more passengers and other facilities are there.”
He said around 8 million Bangladeshi expatriates are living abroad, including Saudi Arabia and other European countries.
“Our target is to carry all those who want to fly by Biman, following our business policy. Biman successfully operated all Hajj flights this year instead of taking a lease,” he added.
Zahid Hossain said Biman Bangladesh Airlines always takes decisions and plans in a competitive way as per International Air Transport Association (IATA) rules.
