Biman Bangladesh

[Ray Finkle]

There is an article which suggests tickets for the DC-10 enthusiast flights will go on sale next month, although it appears their flying schedule has now been extended so things may well have changed.

While today marks the end of the standard commercial run of passenger flights on the DC-10, Biman Bangladesh Airlines is also planning a bonus flight next February, when that aircraft is delivered for its retirement in Birmingham, England. Tickets for that go on sale next month.

Full article: http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/6/51826 ... ight-today

 

[Hassaan]

I believe the flights go on sale next Friday.

 

[Ray Finkle]

That's what was said but I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[Brum X]

Im hearing today that Biman Bangladesh have had the route accepted from Dhaka-Birmingham-JFK





Lets see what happens now then ??????

 

[justplanecrazy]

Times released. http://fb.me/2P9WLdN5Y

 

[Ray Finkle]

Thanks for the link.

So it'll be arriving into BHX from Dhaka at 08:15 then departing for JFK at 10:15 every Tue & Sat, then arriving back from JFK at 05:45 and departing for Dhaka at 07:45 every Wed and Sun. Should make for some nice early morning photo's, if they're running on time that is

 

[User0001]

According to that link, it leaves JFK at 2145 and arrives BHX 0545.

3 hour flight time? I thought they had a B777, not a Concorde!

Then, depart BHX 1015 arrive JFK 1845, a flight time of 13h30. Either someone is having a laugh and guessing, or Biman seriously need to have a word with their scheduling team!

Yep, Biman living up to their reputation of incompetence if those times are true!

 

[justplanecrazy]

Looks like all uk times to me.

 

[Hassaan]

According to that link, it leaves JFK at 2145 and arrives BHX 0545.

3 hour flight time? I thought they had a B777, not a Concorde!

Then, depart BHX 1015 arrive JFK 1845, a flight time of 13h30. Either someone is having a laugh and guessing, or Biman seriously need to have a word with their scheduling team!

Yep, Biman living up to their reputation of incompetence if those times are true!

These aren't the final times, are they?

 

[Ray Finkle]

And so the spin begins.....

Birmingham to offer direct flights to New York JFK airport for first time in ten years

Flights to JFK airport in New York will begin again from Birmingham next year for the first time in a decade as part of a double boost from the £40 million runway extension.....

.....Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate the flights, and will also put on twice-weekly flights to Dhaka in Bangladesh – a first for the city, and only made possible by the extension, which makes more far-flung parts of the world accessible.

..... Paul Kehoe said.....this is exactly the type of operation that our longer runway has been built to cater for.

.....Biman Bangladesh, the country’s National Flag carrier, came on board after the 400 metre runway extension made it possible to operate the flights on a Boeing 777 aircraft,.....

Full article: http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/bi ... fk-6422614

 

[User0001]

We also recognise the many opportunities to build business and cultural links between Dhaka, Birmingham and New York and see how successful other long-haul routes have been in recent years from Birmingham

Obviously been looking very very closely.

UA (old Continental) dropped from 2 to 1 daily, 5 weekly in winter, Air Transat went from 2 to 1 weekly and stagnant since. Air Shylet, Air Blue, US Airways all come and gone. Yep, that's one hell of a successful long haul programme there. Only Air India have lasted of the upstarts lately, and even that has had a break in between.

An another not, one news site suggested BHX-JFK would be £100 all in (inc taxes!!!!). I would love to see how the bean counters expect that one to last past a few months!

 

[User0001]

And now Biman has stated it will return to MAN, despite recently stating they were too expensive. Seriuosly, bloody clueless!!!!

 

[Hassaan]

And now Biman has stated it will return to MAN, despite recently stating they were too expensive. Seriuosly, bloody clueless!!!!

Me thinks this won't be much of a success after all.

 

[User0001]

And thus why my cynicism remains. How can they state that an airport offered a better deal but then go back to the other anyway.

The fact a MAN flight is now back on the cards does not alter my view of Biman at all. Its just another opportunity to walk out on MAN again, not exactly something to relish.

 

[Ray Finkle]

And now Biman has stated it will return to MAN, despite recently stating they were too expensive. Seriuosly, bloody clueless!!!!

Is price the reason they gave for leaving MAN? If so, with MAN's standard fees being roughly around half of that of BHX, then Mr Kehoe must have given them one hell of a deal! If that is the case then the desperation to get something, anything, in for the runway opening is worse than I thought.

 

[User0001]

Yes, in the initial press release stated that Biman chose BHX for 2 reasons:

-BHX offered a better deal than MAN.
-BHX offered the larger offering of Bangladeshi nationals.

So yes, Paul Kehoe must have offered one hell of a discount.

However, BHX should be worried about this latest development for 2 reasons

-If BHX was cheaper, why suddenly state you would like to serve MAN anyway?
-If BHX offers the larger potential customer base, why potentially offer more seats from MAN? (based on BHX being a transit flight and thus a split load with JFK, where JFK is likely to take the bigger share as that is the true market they are after, but MAN potentially could be a non-stop as it didn't seemed to be linked to a suggestion of another route which would therefore by default mean a larger capacity).

Now notice I am not suggesting for one second Biman will abandon BHX for MAN, but, what I am questioning is why make such a laboured point about BHX's merits over MAN, just to potentially give them a better service later?

The Biman BS wagon rolls on, and people suggested they could be turning a corner. Seriously, I fear BHX (and now MAN again) could get their fingers burnt here.

 

[Ray Finkle]

It certainly will be interesting to see how it all develops.

It wouldn't surprise me if they do abandon BHX (for MAN or not) after a couple of years, BHX will have had the publicity for the runway opening and as soon as those incentives run out and the full fees are due they may well think enough is enough.

 

[Ray Finkle]

An update of the final DC-10 scenic flights from the Biman site.

Scenic tour Tickets for the last passenger flight will only be sold via our official partner in this endeavor - Ian Allan Travel whose website is at www.ianallantravel.com. This website will be updated in early January 2014 with all the details on the flight times and how to book, etc. In addition, Biman Bangladesh Airlines will be offering scenic flights from Birmingham and will be providing details on how to book directly via our website on January 10th. So do not buy tickets elsewhere, we want these tickets to go to genuine aviation enthusiasts.

 

[Ray Finkle]

The Biman DC-10 is scheduled to be at BHX from Thursday 20th February to Monday 24th February operating 9 enthusiasts flights, after that it will depart to Seattle at some point.

It is due to arrive from Dhaka on Thursday 20th then will operate three flights on Saturday 22nd, three on Sunday 23rd and three on Monday 24th with the departures at 09:00, 12:00 and 15:00.

Flights should be on sale from January 14th either through the Biman site or Ian Allen Travel with only the window and adjacent seats available (A,B,G,H?) and should be £100-150 depending on whether you're in the window seat or the one next to it.

All subject to change of course and remember this is Biman we're talking about.

 

[Aviador]

Any chance of some pickies.