Hajj operations threatened as Biman facing aircraft shortage

With the first Hajj flight scheduled to begin on April 18, Biman Bangladesh Airlines is facing mounting pressure due to a severe shortage of aircraft, raising concerns over potential disruptions to flight schedules during one of the busiest Hajj travel seasons of the year. 

Officials and industry insiders warn that unless immediate measures are taken, the national flag carrier may struggle to maintain its Hajj operations smoothly, potentially leading to delays or cancellations.

Bangladesh is expected to send approximately 78,500 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj in 2026. At least 50 percent of these passengers will be transported by Biman. Given the current shortage of widebody aircraft, there are growing concerns that pilgrims may face significant inconvenience if the situation does not improve quickly.

Biman sources said the national flag carrier is currently operating only 14 aircraft on international routes, despite requiring at least 30 to 35 to meet existing passenger demand and sustain route operations. The airline's total fleet now stands at 19 aircraft, comprising six Boeing 787 Dreamliners; four Boeing 777-300ERs; four Boeing 737s; and five DHC Dash-8 Q400s. 

However, all aircrafts are not operational now. At least four widebody aircrafts - including three Boeing 787s and one Boeing 777 - are currently grounded, significantly limiting long-haul capacity.

A critical Boeing aircraft remains in Rome for maintenance, despite being scheduled to return on April 8. Its delayed return has intensified concerns among officials.

Sources indicate that if the aircraft does not rejoin the fleet by today (April 12), maintaining the Hajj flight schedule could become extremely difficult. In such a scenario, flight cancellations may be unavoidable. A senior Biman official said, "The shortage of widebody aircraft is acute. Even a single aircraft being unavailable at this moment creates serious operational pressure."

Operational reliability has also come under scrutiny following at least 10 technical incidents involving Biman's Boeing and Dash-8 aircraft over the past month. The impact is already visible. The flights on the Dhaka-Kuwait route were delayed by up to 24 hours while similar disruptions occurred on the Dhaka-Chattogram-Dubai route.