Biman Brings European Countries Closer With Codeshare

Biman is entering codeshare and interline agreements with Gulf Air and Japan Airlines, which grant Biman passengers access to the destinations served by the two carriers. Biman expects both deals will be signed before September.

Shafiul Azim, the MD and CEO of Biman Airlines, highlights the fact that it is the first time Biman is going for codeshare agreements with Gulf Air, the national flag carrier of Bahrain, through which they plan to expand its reach into Europe. While the interline agreement with Japan Airlines will allow Biman passengers to travel to the US via Tokyo, sources in Biman said.

Code-sharing is a partnership between two airlines that allows a flight to be operated by one carrier and marketed by another,  allows airlines to sell tickets to destinations they do not fly to, and offer numerous flights without additional equipment, resources, and costs.

Code-sharing provides passengers with a wider choice of flights with more convenient booking, checking-in, luggage handling, and travelling experience. It is the most preferred way of expanding and strengthening their market.

Biman Airlines is also planning to make a code-sharing agreement with Air Canada to have further reach into North America.

Biman MD revealed that For years, Biman has been trying to sign codeshare agreements with several airlines, which will yield profit from routes under both airlines. He said, “Code sharing is a kind of indirect fleet expansion”.

Since this is the first time any carrier of Bangladesh signed a codeshare agreement with a foreign carrier, Aviation expert ATM Nazrul Islam praised Biman’s move and said this is a unique moment for the aviation sector in Bangladesh.

Through an interlining agreement between two carriers, a passenger can check in with one ticket to reach their destinations. It is not a direct flight, instead, it is with flights run by both carriers.

This agreement improves the inter-airline ticketing experience with the assurance of the flexibility of travelling across multiple locations without having to make multiple bookings.

Azim said regarding the importance of the interlining agreement, “This means we will get the opportunity to take passengers to America indirectly via Narita.

“We are also expecting that the travellers from our neighbouring countries, including Nepal and India and especially people of Kolkata and Delhi, will also find the route attractive,” he added.

Biman now operates flights to 20 international destinations,