Biman Bangladesh Airlines is unlikely to commence direct flights to New York before 2028 as Bangladesh must first complete key international aviation safety assessments and secure a higher aviation safety rating from the United States, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (Caab) Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq said today (21 June).
Speaking to reporters at a hotel in Dhaka, the Caab chairman said Bangladesh is scheduled to undergo two major audits by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) over the next two years.
According to him, an ICAO security audit is set for October this year, while the more comprehensive safety audit is planned for October 2027.
Addressing questions about Bangladesh’s long-standing efforts to restore direct air connectivity with New York, Siddiq said the issue is linked to the United States Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Category-1 aviation safety rating rather than ICAO audits.
“We will first complete the ICAO audits. After successfully passing the 2027 audit, necessary steps will be taken to obtain FAA Category-1 status,” he said.
The Caab chairman expressed optimism that Bangladesh would be able to achieve the required rating if the post-audit evaluation and approval processes are completed successfully.
When asked whether direct flights to New York could begin before 2028, Siddiq said it was too early to make any commitment.
“It is not possible to say anything definitively before the 2027 audit is completed. The matter will depend on the post-audit assessment and approval process,” he said.
The Federal Aviation Administration downgraded Bangladesh to category-2 for not operating flights for four successive years. The Dhaka-New York flights for Biman have remained suspended since July 2006.
Restoring the rating has been a long-standing objective of both the government and Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which has repeatedly expressed interest in launching services to New York.
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