Biman, bald aus und vorbei??

[Jubilee]

Viel schlimmer wie jetzt kann es wohl kaum noch fuer Biman kommen. Ich frage mich wirklich, wie lange das Biman noch durchhalten kann. Ein ums andere Mal wird eine DC-10 gegrounded (BRU/JFK), von einem Flugplan kann schon seit Jahren keine Rede mehr sein. Zudem ist kein Ende der technischen Probleme in Sicht, der notwendige Ersatz der DC10 verzögert sich auch immer wieder hinaus.

 

Biman now in deep crisis

 

The kind of crisis that we feared for long and all along urging the government for appropriate timely action to avoid such crisis has happened. The schedule of international operation of Biman Bangladesh Airlines suddenly collapsed for five days due to grounding of almost entire DC-10-30 fleet.

 

The months of December 2005 and January 2006 were very bad for Biman, with flight regularity falling down to record low-0 to 10 per cent. The month of February when the situation was expected to improve with the end of Hajj operation turned worse. The airline was engulfed by a crisis unprecedented in its history-probably history of any other national flag carrier.

 

In fact, it is appropriate to say that Biman was lucky to avoid this kind of situation for so long. The danger of this kind of crisis due to unreliable fleet stalked Biman right from its birth. Government-the owner of the airline never paid enough attention to avoid this problem.

(...)

Engagement of already inadequate aircraft for hajj operations made the situation bad during December 2005, January 2006 and up to middle of February 2006. Technical trouble of aircraft also partly contributed to the break-down of schedule regularity. The situation turned critical during third week of February. This time non-availability of aircraft due to technical trouble is the main reason.

 

The hajj operation ended on February 14. But with four DC-10-30s became grounded in different places due to various kinds of technical fault almost immediately and the schedule of international operation collapsed. On February 21 Biman informed that three out of four DC-10-30s have joined the fleet after repair and the other would join soon. Schedule operation would be back to normal, the airline claimed.

 

However, with inadequate ageing fleet the possibility of maintaining respectable schedule regularity seems to be not that bright. It is likely that Biman will continue to suffer with poor schedule regularity because of frequent technical trouble of the aircraft. Induction of adequate reliable fleet is the only answer to tackle the problem.

 

(...)

Apart from great suffering to travelling public, total break-down of schedule regularity has dent the reputation of Biman further and deeply. The public perception of Biman was never good, but schedule disruption in December 2005, January and February 2006 has damaged it beyond repair, making it highly unreliable airline-a national shame.

 

In the face of unprecedented schedule disruption, the venerable customer service of Biman folded further. The concerned Biman staff made no effort to control damage by politely informing the affected passengers about the situation. Even Business class passengers were not informed about the change of their flight time. They, on their own had to call Biman flight enquiry to learn about status of their flights.

 

Biman's flight enquiry was the most sought after department during the period. But instead of being polite and businessman like, they tried to become evasive and sometime discourteous. That kind of attitude also harmed the interest of Biman.

 

No end insight

 

Nothing in sight suggest that situation in Biman will change for better soon. While Biman is in dire strait because of weak fleet position, the government is dragging its feet in proving sovereign guarantee and equity for the purchase of new aircraft, waiting to be ordered. It is learnt that Biman is trying to take lease of two Airbus aircraft. However, it is difficult to say when these proposed leased aircraft are going to join the fleet. Moreover, that too will be a solution, temporary in nature. The need of the hour is pragmatic realistic action not only to salvage the national flag carrier from current flight, but also to save it from recurrence of such crisis.

 

It may be noted that growth and replacement are the two main reasons for which airlines acquire aircraft. Additional aircraft may be needed by an airline to achieve growth in capacity to meet increasing demand. Old aircraft are usually less economical to operate and less dependable. They burn more fuel; need more frequent maintenance and over haul, and breakdown more often, causing flight delays and disruptions.

 

On both these count Biman need to replace its international fleet. The airline was born without an aircraft in January 1972. Since then Biman could never have adequate and dependable fleet at any time of its life. As a result it could never shake-off its negative image and even at its home base gradually lost market share.

 

The history of Biman is the history of its sufferings in the absence of perspective planning and enough dependable fleet for smooth and unhindered operation. The airline has never been able to take measures to replace ageing aircraft before the situation become too critical and operation of services too hazardous.

 

New Fleet

 

More than five year ago, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism was prompting and actively supporting a plan to modernize the fleet of Biman Bangladesh Airlines for international sector with new generation aircraft. The airline decided to phase-out its four DC-10-30 aircraft and replaces those with new generation higher capacity aircraft of 300-350 seats to operate mainly on long-haul destinations. The Fleet Planning Committee recommended Airbus A340-300 and Boeing B777-200ER aircraft as the replacement airliner of present fleet of DC-10-30.

 

In addition to capacity constraints, the dependability of the international fleet considerably reduced even five years ago. Technical delays and breakdown on the route became frequent and regular feature.

 

Apart from frequent delays and breakdown of services, maintenance and operational cost of old aircraft is also comparatively very high. The operating cost of DC-10-30 is, according to an estimate, US dollar 1000 more per block hour than the new generation aircraft.

 

It was calculated that if the new generation aircraft are utilized 10 hours each per day, each aircraft will save US dollar 3,00,000 per month. Thus, four new generation aircraft will save Biman US dollar 1.2 million per month in operating cost alone. In addition, new aircraft and higher capacity are expected to generate higher revenue as well as much better schedule regularity.

 

Unfortunately, however, after making some progress like selection of aircraft for the fleet and floating international tender, the plan was finally shelved, before the last general election.

 

When the present government took over the administration, the question of modernization of Biman fleet received a new lease of life. Airbus and Boeing, the two largest aircraft manufacturers of the world, prepared marketing and fleet plan for Biman.

 

Later Airbus and Boeing also submitted offers for A330-200 and Boeing 777-200ER. The offer also contained assurance for finding financier for the aircraft purchase. Both, however, required sovereign guarantee and equity participation by the government.

 

A subcommittee of the Tender Evaluation Committee (TEC) after comparative study and evaluation of technical and financial aspects of A330-200, A340-300F and B777-200ER found A330-300 "more suitable for operation on Biman's mid-haul routes and B777-200ER "more suitable for long-haul operation", in place of Biman's existing DC-10-30 aircraft. Considering huge financial involvement, logistic requirements and transitional issues in case of simultaneous purchase of 6 A330-200s and 4 B777-200ER aircraft, the TEC recommended purchase of 6 A330-200 for immediate replacement of 6 DC-10-30s (4 Biman's own and 2 on leases) and purchase of 4 B777-200ER later in 2007 or 2008.

 

The Board of Directors of Biman accepted the recommendation and send to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism for getting sovereign guarantee and equity from the Ministry of Finance and approval from the Council Committee for purchase. That was in July last year.

 

(...)

With another general election coming up soon, the possibility of Biman,s fleet modernization plan getting approval soon seems to be not that bright.

 

However, there is no doubt that the government has great responsibility in this regard and it must discharge that responsibility swiftly and properly for the interest of national flag carrier.

Hier gibts den ganzen Artikel

[ATN340]

Jetzt bin ich aber irritiert!

 

Die hatten doch schon unterschriftsreife Verträge mit Airbus über 6 A330/340 ab 2007 vorliegen! *Grübel*

[zonk]

A340? Ich dachte die wollen A330 und B777

[bravohgt]

Naja und sooooooooooo schlimm sehen zumindest die Twk. eigentlich auch nicht aus

[MAX777]

A340? Ich dachte die wollen A330 und B777

 

So waren meine informationen eigendlich auch. 6 A-330 und 4 B777 wenn ich mich richtig erinnere.

[Nico]

Hi.

die DC10 muss weg die habe wie schon oben geschrieben nur noch verspätung bis zu 2 tagen .

ich würde mich über eine weitere B777 freuen in FRA in dem fall BIMAN.

[PW2704]

Auch wenn es schade ist. Wären die letzten Pax DC10 in FRA.

[TobiBER]

Scheinbar findet diese Woche der letzte NYC-Flug statt. Für den Sommer kann ich keine Flüge mehr entdecken.

[Jubilee]

JFK stand eigentlich auf der Streichliste, wird aber doch weiterhin bedient. Also bei amadeus stehen weiterhin die Flüge via BRU drin. Andere Meldungen sprachen aber auch mal davon die Flüge via MAN zu routen. Auf der BG-Homepage ist JFK via MAN erreichbar. Was stimmt nu??

[conrad]

im Flugplan von MAN stehen die BG DC10en auch drin.

[Rapoc]

JFK wird via MAN bedient. BRU wird genauso wie FRA nicht mehr bedient.

[TobiBER]

Wie die Website von Yahoo Singapur meldete, stellt die Fluggesellschaft Biman Bangladesh Airlines, deren alleiniger Eigentümer die Volksrepublik Bangladesch ist, bis auf Weiteres Flüge nach Europa, Japan und in die USA ein. Biman soll momentan knapp bei Kasse sein und sich deshalb keine unprofitablen Langstreckenflüge mehr leisten können, wie ein Sprecher verlautbaren ließ.

 

Zeitweise sollen daher Flüge nach Frankfurt, New York, Tokyo, Paris und Bangkok-Singapur eingestellt werden, sagte ein Minister der Zivilen Luftfahrt der bengalischen Nachrichtenagentur BSS. Er machte allerdings keine Angaben, zu welchem Zeitpunkt die Flüge wieder aufgenommen werden. „Wir erleiden momentan einen Verlust von 5,5 Millionen Taka (etwa 80.000 Dollar) pro Flug nach new York, weil wir mir alten DC-10 Maschinen fliegen.“ sagte der Minister weiter. Im letzten Jahr hat Biman etwa 41 Millionen Dollar Verlust gemacht. Vor allem wegen der steigenden Treibstoffkosten und zwei Unfällen.

 

Momentan fliegt Biman 27 internationale Ziele an und nutzt Flugzeuge die teilweise über 20 Jahre alt sind. Daher sucht die Fluggesellschaft momentan nach eigenen Angaben nach einem „strategischen Partner. Im Gespräch sind angeblich Thai Airlines, Emirates und Gulf Air.

[ATN340]

Die können sich doch bei Varig bedienen!

 

Da sind mehrere 777 2nd Hand verfügbar.

Die ehem. BA-777 sind mit Extratank nachgerüstet worden, Reichweiten-Plus von 700KM!

 

 

Auch sind wohl bald weitere A310-300(ET) mit PW-Engines verfügbar, die Leasingverträge von Sibir über diese Maschinen laufen aus!

 

 

ATN

[Gerrity]

Wird nach LHR denn weiter geflogen oder nicht?

Denn einmal schreiben sie, dass die Flüge nach Europa eingestellt werden, allerdings taucht bei den Städten London nicht auf.

[Tirreg]

Wird nach LHR denn weiter geflogen oder nicht?

Denn einmal schreiben sie, dass die Flüge nach Europa eingestellt werden, allerdings taucht bei den Städten London nicht auf.

 

Kann mir vorstellen, dass London profitabel ist, da dort ziemlich viele Bangladeshi leben. Ebenso wie die Flüge in den Mittleren Osten, die wohl gut gebucht sein dürften.

[FKB64]

Vielleicht sollte ein Land, in dem noch nie was auf die Reihe gekommen ist, generell den Gedanken aufgeben in die weite Welt zu fliegen...

[101]

der stammtisch ist hiermit eröffnet.

[FKB64]

O.k., ich nehm ein Pils!

[adima]

Achso ja: Wird denn nun die Biman einen A 330 oder A 340 der LH anmieten im Juli oder gar nen Jumbo?

Hat da jemand ev. Quellen??????????

[adima]

Achso ja: Wird denn nun die Biman einen A 330 oder A 340 der LH anmieten im Juli oder gar nen Jumbo?

Hat da jemand ev. Quellen??????????

[SteveCRJ]

*Räusper*

Ich kann mir nicht vorstellen, dass LH derzeit einen A330 oder A340 frei hat, den sie vermieten/verleasen könnte...

 

Und nach dem kürzlichen Malheur mit der 744 in FRA einen Jumbo schon gar nicht...

 

Viele Grüße,

"Steve"

[TobiBER]

Das war es nun endgültig mit JFK - letzter Flug war am Wochenende.

 

BRU soll im Laufe des August eingestellt werden.

[adima]

Naja, ob man dann bald die wenigen verbliebenen Eurpoa Strecken in Ermangelung von DC 10 mit dem A 310/ 300 fliegen wird? Oder ist am Ende gar was dran am Gerücht, dass man ein oder zwei Md11 mietet? Bleibt also spannend und ich hoffe, es bessert sich mal was bei der BG.

[Hias]

Am Sonntag habe ich in MAN noch die DC-10 gesehen...Also fliegen tut sie noch...