Advance seat booking and ticket blocking drop to zero: Biman MD
Staff Report: The Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Md Shafiqur Rahman, has said that advance seat booking and ticket blocking are now at zero.
He mentioned that if any information regarding ticketing manipulation is found, those involved are immediately removed from their respective departments.
He made these remarks during a courtesy meeting with the Executive Committee of the Aviation and Tourism Journalist Forum of Bangladesh (ATJF) at Biman's Balaka office on Wednesday afternoon.
Regarding the recent issues of ticket blocking and artificial shortages on flights to Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern destinations, the MD said: “Currently, advance seat booking or ticket blocking in Biman is at zero. I personally monitor the matter.”
He added: “Previously, there were allegations against some individuals. Those accused have been removed from ticketing responsibilities and transferred to other departments.”
Speaking about baggage management at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, he said: “We are trying to further improve baggage management. If we receive any complaints regarding baggage, we take immediate action.”
He added: “However, we have some infrastructural limitations. I hope baggage management will improve once the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport becomes operational.”
He also said: “To ensure transparency in baggage management, Biman employees in the relevant department wear body-worn cameras.”
He further added: “When they enter duty for baggage handling, they attach the cameras to their bodies and return them after completing their shift. To enhance monitoring, we have purchased 150 new cameras.”
Regarding preparations for Hajj flights, he said: “With the current aircraft in our fleet, we are able to operate scheduled flights smoothly. However, during the Hajj season, aircraft demand will be higher.”
“In that case, we will reduce flights on one or two routes and use those aircraft for Hajj flights. We expect that, as always, pilgrims will be able to travel smoothly with Biman Bangladesh Airlines to perform Hajj,” he added.
The Biman MD and CEO also said that all possible efforts are being made to bring flight delays to zero, improve the behaviour of crew and staff, and make the airline more passenger-friendly.
During the courtesy meeting, ATJFB President Tanzim Anwar delivered a welcome speech and advised Biman to take the necessary steps to become more passenger-friendly
Biniyougbarta/sam//
