Another Boeing has joined the Biman Bangladesh Airlines fleet.
The Boeing 777, christened ‘Akash Pradip’ touched down the Shahjalal International Airport on Friday.
This is the third Boeing 777 acquired by the national flag carrier.
The aircraft was inducted at a function in front of the airport’s VIP lounge on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, present as the chief guest, thanked Boeing for its timely delivery.
“We have got the aircraft in due time as there was no delay in making the payment,” Hasina said.
She hoped the state-owned Biman would be able to make profits in the future.
Another Boeing 777 (named Ranga Prabhat) is expected to arrive in March.
Earlier, in 2011, two Boeing 777s – ‘Palki’ and ‘Arun Alo’ – had joined the Biman fleet.
In 2008, Biman had signed a deal with Boeing for four 777s, four 787s and two 737s aircraft.
The last Boeing 787 Dreamliner was expected between 2017 and 2019.
Bidding adieu the world’s last passenger DC-10 aircraft, the Prime Minister said it was a historic moment.
She thanked all involved with the aircraft’s maintenance including its pilot.
Hasina said it was because of the skilled pilot and crew that the ageing aircraft could be flown.
“Whenever I travelled on this aircraft, I went to the cockpit and enquired about it,” she said. And she had been on its flight several times.
The 30-year old aircraft would fly for the last time, on the Dhaka-Kuwait-Birmingham route, on Feb 20.
Then the aircraft, which is now part of the Biman fleet, will find its final resting place at the Boeing museum.
No airlines currently fly DC-10s manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. The DC-10 to roll out of the assembly line was in 1988.
Among four DC-10 aircraft in Biman’s fleet, one was manufactured in 1978, two in 1979 and the last in 1988.
One Dc-10 had crashed in Chittagong during the BNP-led alliance government.
The two others have remained dysfunctional for long.
The Prime Minister mentioned modernisation and expansion of the airport during the two consecutive terms of the government under her leadership.
She said a feasibility study was on to set up a tunnel from the airport railway station to the main terminal of the airport to facilitate passenger movement.
The railway, civil aviation and tourism ministries would work jointly on the project, she said.
She stressed that Biman should be alert about punctuality. “Biman has now become more punctual and will be further punctual in future.”
“Our target is to turn Biman into a profitable entity,” Hasina said.
The Prime Minister stressed digital sale of tickets.
She also revealed plan of purchasing two small aircraft for local operations.
Source: Bd news24
