Biman Bangladesh Airlines is launching its Dhaka-Narita (Tokyo) direct flight from September 1, 2023, Shafiul Azim, managing director and CEO of the national flag carrier, told UNB. The Biman CEO said that the inaugural flight will take off from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on September 1 at 11:45 pm local time and reach Narita International Airport in Japan on September 2 at 9:15 am local time. The flight, BG-377, from Narita International Airport to Dhaka will take off on September 2. Read: Dhaka city corporations grapple with persistent waterlogging problem on multiple fronts Azim said Biman flights from Dhaka to Narita will depart every Friday, Monday and Wednesday at 11:45 pm and from Narita to Dhaka, every Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday at 11 am.   Biman Bangladesh Airlines started selling tickets for the Dhaka-Narita (Tokyo) direct flights from July 25. The minimum one-way fare on the route is Tk 70,828 and return ticket price is Tk 1,11,656 per passenger. Read: Govt will decide on ground handling at Dhaka airport’s third terminal and Biman is ready: CEO Biman offered a discount on the occasion of the inauguration of direct flights on the Dhaka-Narita route. The special discount was on till August 15. At the time, the minimum one-way fare on Dhaka-Narita route was Tk 49,100 and return tickets were Tk 84,496 per passenger. Most of the opening flight tickets have already been sold. According to Biman, the number of Bangladeshis living in Japan is not significant. Japanese nationals engaged in various development projects in Bangladesh are primarily expected to be passengers on the route. Read: Market mismanagement behind the rise of egg price The Biman CEO said, “Very soon we are going to start a 24-hour call centre following the international system. Passengers will be able to get all the updated information on flights round the clock.” As part of the ‘Smart Bangladesh’ goal, automated baggage system will be introduced soon, the Biman Bangladesh Airlines CEO said. “Not even 1 kg of extra baggage will be allowed. The automated baggage system will be functional from September 1.”

There has been no official decision yet on the ground handling work at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director and CEO Shafiul Azim has said. “The prime minister gave a clear directive during her visit to the airport that the ground handling should be improved, it should be world-class. We have been working to ensure that since then," he said. “Since then, we have been procuring new equipment. We  have already bought new equipment worth Tk 1,000 crore, and a Tk 600-700 crore budget to buy new equipment is in the pipeline. We have recruited manpower as well,” said the national flag carrier CEO. “There are limitations in this too, but we are working day and night,” he said. Also read: 12 boarding bridges will be operational when Dhaka Airport’s 3rd Terminal partially opens this Oct: CAAB A project with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is on, he added.

As the effects of Cyclone Mocha have passed, regular flights are starting at Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport this morning (May 15, 2023). Director of the Airport, Group Captain Taslim Ahmed, said regular flights will depart from Shah Amanat International Airport from today. Earlier, due to inclement weather caused by Cyclone Mocha, the authority suspended flights at Shah Amanat International Airport from 6 am on May 13 after Bangladesh Meteorological Department issued the No. 8 disaster signal in Chattogram. Read More: Scanners to be installed soon at Ctg port gates: State Minister Meanwhile, all activities of Chattogram port were suspended since May 12 night due to fear of damage from Cyclone Mocha. Ships were being brought back to the jetty and outer anchor early today.   The Meteorological Department has asked Chattogram port to hoist local cautionary signal number 3 after the impact of Cyclone Mocha has passed. After the situation became normal, the Chittagong Port Authority decided to withdraw its alert-4 and normalise the port operations. The port will be fully operational from this morning, said Chattogram Port Authority Secretary Md. Omar Farouk. Read More: Bay Terminal Project: Deal signed with 2 South Korean companies to prepare final design

Cox's Bazar Airport will remain closed from Saturday (May 13, 2023) 7am to Sunday (May 14, 2023) 7pm due to the very severe cyclonic storm Mocha in the Bay of Bengal. However, the decision on Shah Amanat International Airport of Chattogram will be taken after assessing the situation in the morning, said Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority chairman Air Vice Marshal Mafidur Rahman. Earlier, The Bangladesh Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee gave a direction which said that the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam of Sunday (May 14) was postponed under five boards; Chattogram board, Cumilla board, Barisal board, Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board and Technical Board. Read More: Cyclone Mocha likely to cross Cox’s Bazar-Myanmar’s north coast by Sunday evening The very severe cyclonic storm Mocha in east central bay and adjoining area moved north-northeastwards over the same area and was centred at 06 pm today about 930 kms south-southwest of Chattogram port, 860 kms south-southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 890 kms south-southwest of Mongla Port and 855 kms south­ southwest of Payra port. Maritime ports of Cox's Bazar, Chattogram and Payra have been advised to lower local warning signal number 4 and instead hoist great danger signal number 8. The coastal districts of Cox's Bazar, Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Borguna and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal number 8. Read More: 409 shelters prepared in Khulna as depression intensifies into Cyclone Mocha

Mayor of South Korea’s Incheon metropolitan city, Yoo Jeong-bok, has said drone taxis will be up and running between Incheon International Airport and the capital city Seoul in 2025. “Incheon is considered one of the best places to do business and a great place to invest in (South) Korea by leading companies at home and abroad,” he said. The mayor was addressing a farewell reception marking the conclusion of the World Journalists Conference 2023 in Incheon on April 28. Read More: Known for laughs, DC dinner spotlights risks of journalism.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) yesterday (March 14, 2023) shared stunning photos of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s Terminal 3 on its Facebook page. The photos show the beautifully designed ceiling of the new terminal and construction work going on at the extension site. Read More: Bay terminal likely to start operation in 2026: Khalid  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the planned construction of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Pedestrian Underpass is going to be a landmark achievement of the country. “This is reduce traffic jam and accident,” she said while witnessing the presentation on the project at her official residence Ganabhaban. PM’s Deputy Press Secretary  Hasan Jahid Tusher Briefed the reporters. The 1070-metre pedestrian underpass  will connect the first, second and third terminals of the airport, BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) and metro rail station and Ashkona Haji Camp.   Hasina expressed her satisfaction with the design and overall aspects of the project. Also Read: 60% work of Dhaka airport's 3rd terminal completed: State Minister After seeing the presentation of the project, the prime minister  said that it is very beautiful and everything  she wanted is there. She said that people will be able to get off the train and get on the plane, the environment will also be better. She also said that this project should be unique, beautiful and sustainable keeping in mind that people can get services easily. Army Headquarters 24 Engineer Construction Brigade will implement this project. The cost of this underpass will be Tk 1183.87 crore. The underpass will have escalators, elevators as well as airport-like buggies. The underpass will have AC as well as natural light and ventilation.  Ventilation will be provided for natural oxygen flow in case of power failure. There will be eight exit and entry points. At the same time there will be fire fighting system.  About 1.5 lakh liters of water will be kept in reserve. The language movement, the great liberation war, the life and work of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the culture of Bangladesh will be highlighted in the underpass tunnel. State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Md Mokammel Hossain and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, among others, were present.  

The authorities of Sylhet Osmani International Airport have completed all preparations for opening six electronic gates at the airport to make the immigration process faster and improve the quality of services. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, lawmaker from Sylhet-1, will inaugurate the gates at 11 am, said Hafiz Ahmed, manager of the airport. "Six e-gates will be inaugurated on Sunday (January 08, 2023). Three of them were set up for departure and three for entry," he added. Read More: E-gates to be introduced at Chattogram airport He also said the passengers who have e-passports will be able to complete the immigration activities through e-gate.

Two people were killed and six others were critically injured as their microbus crashed into a roadside tree after losing control on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Feni Sadar upazila on Saturday morning. The deceased---Jannatul Ferdous, 36, wife of Kuwait expatriate Belal Hossain of Gobindarapur village under Daganbhuiyan upazila of Feni and the microbus driver Imam Hossain Ripon, 23, son of Abdul Matin Babul Miah of Dakkhin Mohammadpur village under Senbagh upazila of Noakhali.   Belal, 45,  is among the injured. Five others have been identified as injured and receiving treatment at Feni Sadar Hospital: Saber Hossain, 14, Sabbir Hossain, 10, Fahmida Aktar, 22, Sharif Uddin, 30, Limon Hossain, 8.  Read more: oliceman killed in Naogaon road accident; wife injured Highway police and fire service department said the group was returning home to their village in Gobindarapur after receiving Belal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The accident occurred Saturday morning when the speeding microbus hit the roadside tree, presumably after losing control on the highway. The driver died on the spot. Although seven others were rushed to the hospital, Jannatul's injuries did prove fatal by the time they arrived.   Mostafa Kamal, officer-in-charge of Feni Highway police station, confirmed the tragedy saying that the bodies of Jannatul and Ripon were sent to the morgue for autopsies.   Read more: Train crash leaves wife dead, husband injured in Natore The bodies will be handed over to their respective families upon completion of legal formalities, the OC added.

A LATAM Airlines plane taking off from Lima’s international airport struck a firetruck on the runway and caught fire Friday. Authorities said the plane’s passengers and crew were all safe, but two firefighters in the truck were killed. Lima Airport Partners, the company that operates Jorge Chávez International Airport, said in a tweet that operations at the facility had been suspended. There were 102 passengers and six crew members aboard the Airbus A320neo. “Our teams are providing the necessary care to all passengers, who are in good condition,” the company said. Luis Ponce La Jara, general commander of the fire department, said two firefighters were killed and one was injured when the truck they were in was struck by the plane. Both the plane and the firetruck were in motion when they collided. President Pedro Castillo expressed his condolences to the families of the firefighters in a tweet. Flight LA2213 was taking off from Lima’s main airport en route to the Peruvian city of Juliaca. Videos on social media showed smoke coming from a large plane on the runway. Read more: Small plane crashes into Tanzania's Lake Victoria, 19 dead LATAM Airlines said it lamented the death of the firefighters and would provide flexibility to reprogram flights to affected passengers at no extra cost. But it said it did not know why the firetruck was on the runway. “No emergency was reported on the flight It was a flight that was in optimal conditions to take off, it had authorization to take off and it encountered a truck on the runway and we don’t know what the truck was doing there,” said Manuel van Oordt, general manager of LATAM Airlines Peru. “We have to investigate and establish why it was there.” The Prosecutor’s Office in Callao, where the airport is located, said an investigation into the cause of the accident had been opened. According to the fire department, the incident was registered at 3:25 p.m. and four rescue units were mobilized. Read more: Plane crash kills 2, burns homes in California neighborhood Aviation authorities said operations at Jorge Chávez International Airport were suspended until 1 p.m. local time Saturday. Flights would be direct to other airports in the meantime.