Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate a brand new Dash-8 400 aircraft today for its inclusion in the fleet of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
With the factory made Dash-8, which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and named 'Dhrubotara' by the PM, the number of aircraft in Biman's fleet will rise to 19, said Tahera Khondoker, spokesperson of the national flag carrier.
Biman owns most of the 19 aircraft, of which four are 777-300 ER, four 787-8, two 787-9, six 737 and three are Dash-8 400 aircraft, she also said.
Aviation Photo #2493137 Boeing 777-3E9/ER - Biman Bangladesh Medium Large Tweet. This photo is copyright protected and may not be used in any way without proper. Biman operates a rather dense 777-300ER, with 35 business class and 384 economy class seats. I began to snap pictures of the cabin upon boarding, but was told to stop (I outlined what happened here). Thankfully, I already had plenty. Biman Bangladesh Business Class Seat. Biman’s business class seat is not lie-flat. Biman is a full-service carrier with a number of international and domestic destinations. With 12 planes in their fleet, Biman serves 21 destinations, the majority of which are located in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
The premier will inaugurate the aircraft through video conferencing at 11am.
The aircraft is the first of three purchased on government-to-government basis between Bangladesh and Canada, Biman said in a statement yesterday.
The new Dash 8-400 is a 74-seater aircraft built by De Havilland, a well-known Canadian aircraft manufacturer.
Equipped with eco-friendly facilities, the aircraft has HEPA filter technology that purifies the air inside the aircraft by destroying bacteria, viruses and other germs.
The aircraft will also have more leg space, LED lighting and wide windows, according to the statement..
Biman Bangladesh Airlines 777 Business
Since the beginning of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in March, the aviation sector has been struggling to survive due to the suspension of regular flights.
Although flight operation resumed from the middle of July, Biman is yet to begin its flight operation in full swing.
Of the total 17 international routes, the national airliner is now operating its flight on nine routes.
After being forced by the government, Biman had to suspend its flight operation on three routes in Saudi Arabia and Muscat route in Oman.
Top officials of Biman said flow of passengers in different routes is also not satisfactory.
Biman 777
'Under this grave situation, inclusion of new aircraft in Biman is not seen as a very good news,' the official said.
M Mohibul Haque, senior secretary of the civil aviation ministry, earlier told this correspondent that around Tk 200 crore is needed to carry out maintenance of Biman aircraft now.
Biman officials said they plan to increase its flight frequency on domestic and short-haul international routes with the new aircraft.