DHAKA: Despite seeing a rise in the number of passengers, Biman Bangladesh Airlines posted a Tk48 crore reduction in profit for the fiscal year 2015-16.
According to details, the flag carrier registered a net profit of Tk276 crore after paying all taxes in fiscal year 2015-16, according to a press release from Biman. This amount is Tk48 crore less than that of the previous fiscal. In FY2014-15, the carrier posted a profit of Tk324 crore.
According to sources the number of passengers carried by Biman increased by 800,000 in the last three years. Biman served around 2.318 million passengers in FY2015-16, 2.02 million in FY2014-15 and 1.571 million in FY2013-14.
Biman incurred losses five years in a row starting FY2009-10. Biman however claimed that they have turned the tables by seeing a profitable trend in the last two years due to modernisation and automation efforts.
It has transported 40,009 metric tonnes of cargo in FY15-16, which is however 7% less than the previous fiscal year. The cargo tonnage was affected after the United Kingdom placed a cargo ban on Bangladesh on March 8 last year, says the release.
Currently, Biman is operating its flights on 15 international and seven domestic routes.
