Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the recently procured two Boeing 737-800 aircraft of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Tuesday.
An inaugural ceremony was at the VVIP terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) to mark the induction of Biman’s two Boeing-aircraft-Meghdoot and Mayurpankhi.
Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon, its Secretary Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Chairman Air Marshal (Retd) Jamal Uddin Ahmed and other high officials of the national flag carrier, among others, attend the inaugural ceremony.
To get the two Boeing 737-800 aircrafts, Biman had to take a total of US$109m as loans from the financial institutions.
National airliner will have to repay the loan within 12 years from the respective aircrafts delivery dates. US-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing handed over the 5th and 6th aircraft Boeing 737-800s, out of 10 in November and December respectively.
After joining of this two new generation Boeing 737-800, the number of aircraft of the Biman fleet now stands at 14, which will pave the way for the national flag carrier to introduce more new routes.
Industry insiders said this two aircraft must increase strength of Biman adding more flights in different routes especially in mid haul flight. Moreover, this latest aircraft would be cost effective and suitable for Biman than previously operated aircraft.
A high official of Biman Bangladesh Airlines told the Dhaka Tribune that this latest aircraft of Boeing would play a vital role to make the national flag carrier a profitable one as the aircraft consumed less fuel, comparing to the previously procured old aircraft.