Regulatory hurdles still stand between Biman, US market

Dhaka : The government's renewed ambition to launch direct flights between Dhaka and New York by 2027 has generated fresh optimism among Bangladesh's aviation stakeholders and expatriate communities. However, industry experts suggest that significant regulatory, operational and fleet-related challenges must still be overcome before Biman Bangladesh Airlines can realistically commence scheduled services to the United States.

Speaking recently, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the government is working towards launching Dhaka-New York flights next year while simultaneously expanding Biman's fleet through aircraft leasing initiatives. The announcement comes as Bangladesh seeks to strengthen its global air connectivity and capitalize on growing passenger demand from North America.

While the proposal has been welcomed by many, aviation observers note that the primary obstacle is not the availability of aircraft, but Bangladesh's aviation safety oversight status with the United States. According to industry sources, the successful launch of direct services to the US depends largely on the country's ability to satisfy stringent regulatory and safety requirements imposed by American aviation authorities.

FAA safety status remains key challenge

Under the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, the United States evaluates whether a country's civil aviation authority complies with international safety oversight standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The assessment focuses on the effectiveness of the national aviation regulator rather than on individual airlines alone.

As of now, Bangladesh has not yet achieved the FAA status required for a Bangladeshi airline to independently operate scheduled passenger services to the United States. Industry experts emphasize that this issue cannot be resolved simply by acquiring new aircraft or expanding airport infrastructure.

"Biman may possess modern Boeing aircraft and qualified aviation professionals, but the United States must also have confidence in the oversight capabilities of Bangladesh's Civil Aviation Authority," aviation analysts observed.

Biman already prepared initial plans

Despite the regulatory challenges, Biman has not been idle. The national flag carrier has previously submitted plans to US authorities proposing five weekly flights between Dhaka and New York using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. According to the proposal, the route was envisioned as Dhaka-Izmir-New York, operated with Biman's own aircraft.

However, the airline's application itself acknowledged a critical condition: operations would only commence after Bangladesh obtained the necessary FAA Category-1 equivalent safety status.

This indicates that the airline has already undertaken preliminary commercial and regulatory preparations for the US market, but remains dependent on broader national regulatory progress.

Contrasting views on timeline

Questions have also emerged regarding the feasibility of the proposed 2027 launch timeline.

While Minister Millat expressed optimism about starting services next year, CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md. Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq reportedly stated earlier that direct flights to New York were unlikely before 2028 due to pending international safety assessments and regulatory requirements.

Industry observers believe this difference highlights the gap between policy aspirations and regulatory realities.

Bangladesh is scheduled to undergo an ICAO Universal Security Audit Program Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA) audit from October 26 to November 6, 2026. Although this audit is important for aviation security compliance, experts point out that it should not be confused with the safety oversight assessments relevant to FAA recognition.

Adding further complexity, reports indicate that Bangladesh is also expected to face a major ICAO safety oversight audit in October 2027.

Fleet expansion plans underway

Alongside regulatory preparations, Biman is also addressing fleet limitations.

The government has announced plans to lease up to 10 aircraft by 2027 to support network expansion and bridge the gap until 14 new Boeing aircraft, ordered by the airline, begin arriving from 2031 onward.

Industry specialists note, however, that launching a long-haul service to New York requires much more than adding aircraft to the fleet. Aircraft induction, regulatory approvals, crew training, maintenance support, spare parts provisioning and operational readiness must all be completed before such services can commence.

Multiple workstreams required

Aviation experts identify several key requirements that must be fulfilled before direct US services become a reality:

n Strengthening CAAB's safety oversight capabilities and add-ressing identified deficiencies.

n Demonstrating effective implementation of ICAO standards across licensing, airworthiness, operations, aerodrome management, safety management systems and regulatory enforcement.

• Completing ICAO oversight processes and corrective action programs.

• Achieving the FAA safety rating required for Bangladeshi carriers.

• Completing Biman's own regulatory approvals in the United States.

• Preparing aircraft, crews and maintenance systems for ultra-long-haul operations.

• Establishing ground handling, security, cargo, catering and passenger service arrangements in the United States.

• Ensuring long-term commercial viability of the route.

FAA approval would not be final step

Achieving the required FAA safety oversight status would be a critical milestone, but it would not by itself guarantee the launch of Biman's US services.

The airline would still need to complete its own regulatory and operational approvals in the United States, satisfy applicable aviation security requirements, secure airport and ground-handling arrangements, and ensure that all necessary traffic rights and commercial permissions are in place.

Another important question is whether the proposed Dhaka-New York service would be nonstop or operate through an intermediate airport. Biman previously considered a one-stop Dhaka-Izmir-New York operation. A nonstop service would present additional challenges involving aircraft range, payload, fuel requirements and operating economics.

In other words, obtaining the required FAA safety status would open an important door-but several other regulatory, operational and commercial steps would still remain before a Biman aircraft could begin scheduled service to New York."