Biman restarts its Dhaka-Rome-Dhaka service following a nine-year pause
Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to recommence direct flights to Rome, Italy, starting from tonight. The Managing Director and CEO of Biman, Shafiul Azim, expressed confidence in the route's success, citing market analysis that suggests the Dhaka-Rome-Dhaka route will be popular, much like their existing routes to London, Toronto, and Narita. The decision to resume direct flights to Rome comes after a hiatus of nine years, prompted by a significant expatriate Bangladeshi community residing in Italy.
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| A Biman Aircraft | Photo Credit : BSS |
The inaugural flight will be inaugurated by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Faruk Khan, along with Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 9:30pm. Departing Dhaka at 3:30am, this flight marks a significant expansion of Biman's European destinations, in line with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's dedication to Bangladeshis living abroad.
With Rome becoming Biman's third European destination, after London and Manchester, there has been a notable increase in visa applications to Italy, according to the Biman CEO. Plans are also underway to utilize Rome as a stopover for Biman's Dhaka-Toronto-Dhaka flight, replacing Istanbul as the current refueling point.
Initially launched on 2 April 1981, Biman's flights to Rome ceased on 6 April 2015 due to financial losses attributed to high fuel consumption. The resumed flights, operating as flight BG-355, will depart Dhaka every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 2:00am local time until 31 March. From 1 April onwards, the flight schedule will shift slightly to depart at 3:00am, aligning with the summer schedule, with arrival and departure times adjusted accordingly.
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