Biman Bangladesh Airlines is struggling with frequent technical glitches, schedule disruptions and mismanagement, raising serious concerns over the national carrier’s service reliability.
While foreign passengers remain hesitant to fly with Biman, an increasing number of Bangladeshis are also losing confidence in the national carrier.
“I try to visit Bangladesh, my motherland, every year. But I rarely fly with Biman for several reasons beyond technical issues. The attitude of staff matters, too,” said Humayun Kabir, a Bangladeshi-born British citizen.
Kabir also mentioned the behaviour of airport staff in Bangladesh is often unpleasant. “They don’t know how to receive their expatriate brothers. Sometimes it really hurts,” he said.
Sharing similar frustrations about domestic operations, M Farhad Ullah, a businessman from Chattogram, said, “I’m less worried about in-flight services, but flight safety is really worrying! Biman must improve its service quality if it wants to revive its image.”
Amid these concerns, aviation experts have stressed the urgent need for management reforms and the development of skilled pilots, engineers, and cabin crew before acquiring or leasing additional aircraft.
They warned that without addressing internal inefficiencies, the airline risks deepening its operational crisis. “Operating aircraft on an ad hoc basis or through bureaucracy will not work. Flights must be managed by permanent, skilled and commercially trained professionals,” one expert said.
Panel formed to investigate recent technical glitches in Biman flights
Experts also advised prioritising smaller, regional aircraft, citing significantly lower maintenance costs compared to wide-body planes.
The warnings come amid an increasing number of mechanical faults plaguing Biman’s fleet. Official sources said while some aircraft have been repaired and returned to service, others remain grounded, leading to frequent schedule disruptions and cancellations.
In the last month alone, at least nine aircraft on domestic and international routes have experienced various technical faults, according to media reports.
Though major accidents were avoided, the incidents have raised questions about Biman’s maintenance standards and passenger services.
To ease passenger suffering, the airline is finalising the lease of two aircraft, with a fresh procurement plan also under way.
Separately, the Bangladesh government has decided to purchase 25 aircraft from US manufacturer Boeing as part of a broader diplomatic initiative to reduce trade imbalance with the United States and ease tariffs.
Frequent technical glitches in Biman flights spark passenger safety concerns
The purchase will be implemented in phases, though no formal agreement has yet been signed, airline officials confirmed.
Speaking to UNB, Kazi Wahidul Alam, former Biman board member and aviation analyst, underscored the need for restructuring management before expanding the fleet.
He said although aircraft shortages are a concern, the core issue lies in the lack of aviation expertise. “We must first stabilise the organisation. Then we can focus on expansion,” he said.
Wahidul Alam emphasised developing skilled aviation professionals within the country, noting that hiring pilots, engineers, or cabin crew from abroad would cost about $10,000 per person per month.
He also cautioned against nepotism in recruitment, stressing that only qualified individuals should be appointed.
According to him, Bangladesh’s aviation needs should shape future purchases.
He said, “Our long-haul routes are limited to only four or five countries, while short-haul routes dominate. Smaller regional aircraft are more suitable and less costly to maintain. For the price of eight wide-body jets, we could acquire twelve smaller ones. Among them, the Boeing 737 is a good option, while the 777 or 787 could serve larger routes.”
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He added that many of Biman’s ageing aircraft are contributing to recurring mechanical issues and urged stricter oversight and regular quality control.
Currently, Biman operates a fleet of 19 aircraft, including 14 Boeing jets from the United States and five Dash-8 Q400s from Canada. The Boeing fleet comprises four 737-800s, four 777-300ERs, four 787-8 Dreamliners, and two 787-9 Dreamliners.