Biman assures passengers amid temporary Manchester suspension

Amid recent discussions and commentary in various media outlets and on social media regarding the temporary suspension of flights on Biman Bangladesh Airlines' Manchester route, the airline authorities have taken note of the matter.

In this context, Biman has issued the following statement to inform passengers and all concerned about its position and the prevailing situation regarding the Manchester route.

The decision to temporarily suspend flights on the Dhaka/Sylhet–Manchester route is primarily aligned with fleet availability and operational realities. The Manchester route is not commercially viable for the airline. Biman operates a limited number of wide-body aircraft of the same category – B787 and B777 – across its Europe, Hajj and Middle East routes. As a result, operating a long-haul route such as Manchester requires a single aircraft to remain engaged for several consecutive days, creating pressure on overall fleet management. During the Hajj season, additional flights must be operated within a limited timeframe to transport a large number of passengers, making it operationally necessary to adjust frequencies on other routes.

At the same time, demand on Middle East routes remains extremely high due to expatriate workers and Umrah passengers, necessitating the deployment of the limited fleet on routes with higher demand and operational efficiency. In addition, during scheduled C-checks, engine overhauls and structural inspections, one or more aircraft remain out of operation for weeks or months. This long-term maintenance results in aircraft shortages. Furthermore, a global shortage of flight crew persists and this also applies to Biman. Operating comparatively shorter routes instead of long-haul flights allows for more efficient and effective crew management.

Considering all these factors, the airline authorities have decided to temporarily suspend operations on the Dhaka/Sylhet–Manchester route in order to ensure continuity of passenger services, maintain operational stability and make optimal use of the limited fleet. To minimise inconvenience to passengers, Biman has increased flight frequencies on the London route and is currently operating a total of five flights per week. Of these, four flights operate via Sylhet to London, while one flight operates directly from Dhaka to London.

In addition, for passenger convenience, the previously announced date for the temporary suspension of Manchester flights has been revised from 1 February 2026 to 1 March 2026. Passengers holding tickets for the Manchester route are being offered ticket refunds and flight changes without any additional charge. They may also change their travel route to fly via London or rebook their flights to any earlier convenient date, again without any extra fee.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused to passengers and other concerned parties due to the temporary suspension of Manchester flights and seeks their cooperation and understanding. Aircraft acquisition and crew recruitment processes are currently underway, and subject to their completion, the airline will consider resuming flights on the Manchester route in the future. All concerned will be informed in due course.