Some take air journey for comfort while some for speed. But one will hardly enjoy the journey when he or she takes flight in local airlines like GMG for its frequent flight cancellations, reports UNB.

"These days we cannot depend on GMG Airlines for its frequent flight cancellations, no matter whether it is domestic or international ones, let alone the theft of luggage," an aggrieved passenger told UNB.

According to sources at Zia International Airport (ZIA), GMG flights to Dubai from Dhaka were cancelled for five times in March alone while once in February last, causing sufferings to its passengers.

The GMG Airlines, the country''s first private airliner, started operating its flights on Dhaka-Dubai route on February 1 this year. The passengers, mostly workers, face serious difficulties due to the cancellation of its flights to Dubai because they have to reach their destinations in time to join their jobs.

"We hardly make mistakes in confirming and reconfirming our journey so that we can join our jobs in time. But GMG cannot maintain its flight schedules, putting us into trouble. In Bangladesh we can convince our local employers for any unintentional delay, but it''s very difficult to do that abroad," said another aggrieved GMG passenger of Noakhali. He also said he had confirmed his journey in GMG Airlines so he can reach his destination in time. "I thought a private airliner cannot act like Biman Bangladesh Airlines does.

But GMG frustrated me...Thank God I had two days in hand to join my job, or else, I would have lost it," he said. The GMG Airlines, which has one flight to Dubai a day, cancelled its flights on March 1, 22, 26, 29 and 31, showing technical problems, according to the sources.

"Even though GMG claimed technical problems forced it to cancel its flight five times last month, the private airline did it for lack of passengers," said an airport official wishing anonymity. Cancellation of GMG''s domestic flights is also rampant. Its services on Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Jessore, Dhaka-Cox''s Bazar and Chittagong-Cox''s Bazar are not up to the mark. The most interesting thing happened when the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority tried to book a seat in a GMG flight on a domestic route.

As his personal secretary (PS) contacted a GMG booking counter for the booking on April 9, he was informed that the flight on that particular date was not confirmed yet.

GMG managing director Shahab Sattar could not be reached over phone for comments despite repeated attempts by the UNB correspondent. When contacted, GMG PRO Faiyaz said, "It''s quite normal for an airliner to cancel its flight on technical grounds."

Asked if a particular flight is cancelled frequently that means it runs risks, he said he would come up with his official comments after sometimes, but he did not reply. Meanwhile, GMG has taken a Boeing 747-300 aircraft on lease from a Nigerian company for its Dhaka-Dubai route.

After the fire incident of a Saudi Airlines Boeing 747-300 aircraft at ZIA, Indian Civil Aviation Authority asked Biman Bangladesh and GMG Airlines to submit by March 30 their safety certificates of their Boeing 747 aircraft taken on lease from Nigerian companies before flying those over India. Biman has already taken clearance from the Indian Civil Aviation Authority up to October 25. Beside, there are allegations of luggage missing (theft) in GMG.

Gianandra Gupta, a British citizen, lost his valuables during his Dhaka-Sylhet journey in a GMG flight. Some unscrupulous persons took away his valuables worth Tk 16,000 from his luggage. He lodged a formal complaint to the GMG authorities in its Sylhet office, but the authorities bothered little to reply him.

Even the GMG''s Sylhet office did not give him the receipt copy of his complaint letter. When asked about this particular case, the GMG PRO said the luggage handling is done by the Civil Aviation staff. "The Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for this kind of theft," he said.

Marrie Callie, South Asian Correspondent of French La Figaro, also a victim of flight cancellation during her journey to Jessore from Dhaka for covering Sidr cyclone on November 30, said the image of a good airliner depends on maintenance of its flight schedules. "If you ask me whether I''ll fly in GMG Airlines during my next trip to Dhaka, my answer will be, no," she said.

Comments

Add New

Write comment
Name:
Email:	We don't publish your mail. See privacy policy.
Title:
	Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.