Biman calls fresh bid for CMI

A tender notice will be published in newspapers in a day or two

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Biman Bangladesh Airlines has invited a fresh tender to appoint a CMI (Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) Partner to operate two of its Boeing 777-300ER aircrafts to New York.

A tender notice will be published in newspapers in a day or two, said a senior executive of Biman yesterday.

The interested parties will be asked to submit proposals by 15 June.

According to the national airlines, the previous tender failed to receive satisfactory proposals under the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements.

CMI with category 1 air operator’s certificate (AOC) is mandatory for operation of flights in the route as per FAA rules.

After having failed to hire such a CMI partner,  Biman already deferred the date for resuming flights in the route to mid-August.

Earlier, the date was set for first week of June. Biman sources however said resuming is not possible this year. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon held a meeting with Biman Board at his office in Dhaka yesterday.

He said resuming Dhaka-New York flights is a top priority of his ministry, and they are working to make it happen soon. A senior Biman executive said as response to the previous tender was not satisfactory enough, another call is needed.

“We are sincere to reopen Dhaka-New York flights, and that’s why initiatives have been taken to hire category 1 CMI,” he said.

In the previous tender, Biman received offers from the Breaking International Air of Finland, China Southern Airlines, Omni Air International and Omni Apico White Airways from Portugal, Air Atlanta of Iceland, Atlas Air from the USA, Eagle Express and Egypt Airlines. Biman’s New York flights were grounded in 2006.

Biman plans to suspend Delhi and Hong Kong flights during Hajj The meeting also discussed the issues of Hajj flights management.

For Hajj flights, Biman will suspend flights to Delhi and Hong Kong for around four months, said the minister.

Biman also plans to reduce flights from Dubai, Doha and Kuala Lampur to carry Hajj pilgrims, Menon said.

Source: Dhaka Tribune