Biman Bangladesh Airlines faces logistical challenges for its newly announced Dhaka to Rome Fiumicino direct flights, stemming from US sanctions against Iran. The route, which was set to transit through Iranian airspace, has come under scrutiny by the United States, preventing the airline from paying Iran the necessary overflying charges. This situation was reported by Bangladesh’s Daily Star, citing unnamed company officials.
The airline, owned by the state, is now considering altering its flight path to avoid Iranian airspace, a move that would entail navigating through three additional countries. Such a detour is expected to extend the flight duration by 90 minutes, leading to increased operational costs, notably for fuel.
Biman Bangladesh has reached out to the US through Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry, clarifying that the flight to Rome is purely commercial and does not intend to violate sanctions by flying to Iran. However, a response from the US authorities is still pending. Biman’s efforts to communicate with ch-aviation have yet to yield a public statement on the matter.
Ticket sales for the Rome route began on February 15, marking a significant return to the destination after a nine-year hiatus, with the inaugural flight scheduled for March 26. Biman plans to engage in code-sharing arrangements with Italian airlines to facilitate connections between Italy’s major cities and Bangladesh.
The flights to Rome are slated to be operated using Biman’s Boeing 787 aircraft. Biman’s fleet, as per ch-aviation fleets data, comprises six B787s owned by the company, including four B787-8s and two B787-9s, with ages ranging between four and six years.
This development highlights the complexities airlines face when navigating international sanctions and airspace restrictions, underscoring the geopolitical considerations that can impact commercial aviation routes and operational strategies.
