Biman suspends more domestic and international flights

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has suspended more flights on four domestic and two international routes today due to passenger crisis following the effect of the novel coronavirus.

Biman Managing Director Mokabbir Hossain has confirmed the matter to The Business Standard.

Here is list of the routes and suspended flights - 

1. Dhaka- Jessore- Dhaka - BG467/468 of March 15 will be cancelled.          
2. Dhaka- Rajshahi – Dhaka - BG491/492 of March 15 and 16 will be cancelled. 
3. Dhaka- Saidpur- Dhaka - BG495/495 of March 16 will be cancelled.  
4. Dhaka- Kathmandu – Dhaka - BG071/072 of March 24, 29, 30 and 31 will be cancelled; but BG071/072 of March 19 and 22 will operate on route/on time. 
5. Dhaka- Bangkok – Dhaka, BG088/089 of March 16, 23 and 30 will be cancelled. 

Meanwhile, on Dhaka- Cox's Bazar – Dhaka - Biman has requested to operate BG433/434 of March 17, 18, 19 and 20 with DH8 instead of B737 on schedule/on route. 

Earlier in the day, Biman cancelled flights for March 15 and 17 to Nepal after the country suspended on-arrival visas until April 30 amid fear of coronavirus spread.

Just when Biman Bangladesh Airlines had been going for an optimistic fleet expansion, the outbreak of coronavirus has dealt its business quite a blow forcing to make drastic cuts in its flight frequencies on several domestic and international routes. 

Earlier on March 9, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has suspended 74 flights out of 142 on 10 routes out of 18 to some middle-eastern countries, India, Malaysia and Singapore.

Since then, Biman continued to cancel flights in different routes due to passenger crisis and restrictions imposed for coronavirus outbreak.

Thousands of flights have been cancelled worldwide as most of the airliners struggle to cope with a slump in demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

The death toll from coronavirus or COVID-19, that believed to be originated from China's Wuhan, reached 5,436 globally as of Saturday. Besides, 145,810 cases were reported from around the world.