Kamrul Hasan: The government is implementing a series of comprehensive measures to transform the state-owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines into a sustainable, profitable, and internationally competitive carrier, said Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita, MP.

She made the remarks on Wednesday in the Jatiya Sangsad while responding to a starred question from ruling party lawmaker Sarwar Jamal Nizam, MP (Chattogram-13). The minister stated that plans are underway to take the airline to a new level through fleet expansion, improved management efficiency, enhanced service quality, and the expansion of digital systems.

The minister noted that, in addition to operating its own flights, Biman is generating revenue by providing ground handling services to both domestic and foreign airlines. While the airline remains broadly profitable, she acknowledged that there is still room for improvement in operational efficiency and management to meet international standards.

Identifying aircraft shortage as the biggest challenge in Biman’s operations, the minister said that increasing the fleet size would significantly boost revenue and strengthen long-term profitability. Under the “Network and Fleet Plan,” the airline is gradually replacing older aircraft with new ones.

However, as the procurement of new aircraft is a time-consuming process, aircraft are being leased as an interim solution to maintain existing routes and expand new destinations.

Priority has also been given to improving passenger services, she said, adding that initiatives have been taken to enhance both flight operations and ground handling services. Strict monitoring has also been introduced to bring positive changes in the behavior of airline employees.

As part of the digital transformation process, the expansion of online ticketing services has significantly reduced passenger suffering, she added.

Despite operating with a limited number of aircraft, efforts to improve on-time performance (OTP) are ongoing. According to the minister, Biman has achieved around 80 percent OTP in both international and domestic flights.

Analysts believe that in order to remain competitive in the global aviation industry, airlines must ensure balanced development across four key areas: fleet expansion, efficient management, improved service quality, and punctuality. If effectively implemented, the government’s ongoing initiatives could strengthen Biman’s position in the regional aviation market. However, ensuring continuity of long-term planning and accountability will be the key challenge ahead.