Dhaka: Top officials of the country’s three airlines Biman, US-Bangla and NOVOAIR as well as aviation experts today said the second wave of coronavirus has hit the aviation sector again with a serious blow while it was in efforts to revive from the losses it incurred last year following the first wave of the virus spread.

Claiming the second wave of coronavirus has further rubbed salt into wound of the country’s aviation sector, the airline officials urged the government to waive different aeronautical, non-aeronautical and other aviation charges for now.

Participating in a webinar titled "Bangladesh Aviation Sector Amid Pandemic: Challenges and Way Out" organised by Aviation and Tourism Journalists' Forum, the aviation industry elites also cautioned that 10 private airlines so far have shut down from the very beginning and only two US-Bangla and NOVOAIR remain in operation currently despite various obstacles.

NOVOAIR Managing Director Mofizur Rahman stated aeronautical, non-aeronautical and other aviation charges for the airlines imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh are much higher compared to the neighbouring countries.

He further mentioned several challenges including delay in aircraft spare parts import and customs related problems are also responsible for the vulnerable state of the airlines at present.

Mofizur urged CAAB and the concerned ministry to take necessary measures immediately to remove these obstacles and help the airline from the brink of extinction following the pandemic.

Even though flights on different international routes remained suspended for over a year, the airlines were bound to pay huge sums of charges to CAAB, said Abdullah Al Mamun, Managing Director of US-Bangla Airlines. In this sad state of the airline, this provided a nail in the coffin for them, he added.

US-Bangla Airlines has lost 70 per cent capacity in international routes and 54 per cent capacity in domestic routes. "Before Covid-19 pandemic, we used to operate 36 flights per day which now stands at only 18 flights," Mamun explained.

Mamun said they have been demanding waiver of aeronautical, non-aeronautical and other charges for the last seven to eight years. But the authorities concerned are yet to pay heed to their demand.

Mamun said they have to pay BDT 7-8 crore as aeronautical charges which is a huge burden for them.

Kazi Wahidul Alam, an aviation expert and Editor of The Bangladesh Monitor, said it would be difficult for the country's airlines to survive without policy support from the government.

"Many established airlines have become bankrupt due to the Covid-19 fallout and our private airlines will not be able to survive if the government does not readjust the fuel price, aeronautical and non-aeronautical charges," he claimed.

Biman Managing Director and CEO Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal said the flag carrier has lost 43 per cent capacity amid Covid, leading to a huge loss for it.

"Recently we have purchased three brand new aircraft. Besides five state-of-the-art technology equipped aircraft are also sitting idle. But we have to pay loan and maintenance cost money every hour for those aircraft," he sighed.

Hoping that the aviation sector will recover again, CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman said he will sit with the stakeholders and discuss about reducing various charges soon.

Secretary, Civil Aviation Ministry, Md Mokammel Hossain said the government will give highest priority on how to give incentives so that the aviation industry can survive this turmoil and move forward.

State Minister for Civil Aviation M Mahbub Ali as the chief guest at the webinar agreed the aviation sector is going through a very difficult time at present due to Covid-19. "But the government must stand beside the airlines and will do whatever necessary for their survival," he assured.