The sub-committee of Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG, Dhaka) has announced that it will close seven of the national carrier's foreign offices, reports The Dhaka Tribune. The cost-saving decision is now before the Board of Directors for final approval.
Offices in New York, Rome, Toronto, Manchester, Hong Kong, Bahrain, and Delhi are scheduled to be closed as the airline hasn't served those cities for several years. Flights to New York JFK ceased in 2006, after incurring losses of BDT5 million (USD62,500) on each flight. Of its European routes, Rome Fiumicino, Frankfurt International and Brussels National were suspended in 2007. Flights to Manchester International were suspended the same year, and relaunched briefly in 2012, yet the Manchester office maintains a staff of five people. The Rome route was resurrected in 2014, but quickly ceased after experiencing large losses. Hong Kong International and Delhi International services were also suspended in 2014.
The committee's report recommended that staff be brought back to Bangladesh within three months.
Biman Bangladesh retains services to domestic destinations as well as throughout the Middle East, the Indian sub-continent, and Southeast Asia. London Heathrow is its only remaining destination in Europe.
