Biman Bangladesh Airlines, most vulnerable and losing concern for decades, now has planned to modernize it with the latest aircraft Airbus and Boeing.
As per the direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, both fleets and destinations of Biman are expanding.
Airbus, the wide body aircraft which is most cost effective will be purchased from France. Keeping both Airbus and Boeing in its fleet, Biman is expected to become a competitive airliner of South East Asia. And it is expected that Biman will get back its slogan that the world is getting smaller.
For decades, the national flag carrier was a losing concern and is now becoming a profitable entity under the guidance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
However, only keeping the latest aircraft to its fleet will not make Biman profitable. For this, experts have suggested offering better quality services, world class air hostess/ cabin crew, maintaining schedule and others are must, to make it profitable and reliable.
Procuring Airbus for Biman’s fleet has got a new boost following the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron. During his visit to Bangladesh deals have signed between both countries. Biman will procure 10 Airbus gradually.
As per the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Biman is gradually improving the service quality and destinations. As Biman is looking forward to resume fly existing routes and new destinations, procuring new Airbus will lead the decision to proper direction.
As per the decision taken earlier, the A350 model aircraft will be purchased from the French manufacturer on a G-to-G basis. For this purpose, the officials of the South Asia office of Airbus held a meeting with the senior officials of Biman at the beginning of August at the Biman office in Balaka earlier.
Chief Executive Officer of Biman Shafiul Azim told Bangladesh Post, “Experts of both countries are working on it how to procure the airbus for Biman’s fleet. Following their final approval we will ink the procurement agreement.”
Chief Executive Officer of Biman Shafiul Azim said, “We have already had a meeting with Airbus. We have several committees on aircraft procurement and it’s a continuous process. We have discussed the proposal that Airbus has made. We will take further decisions based on the reports of the committees. We have informed them of our needs. How we will move forward, how Biman will benefit financially has also been discussed.”
Shafiul Azim said, “It takes at least two years to supply new aircraft. We will expand the flight network following the aircraft addition to our fleet. We have started flying in Japan. A decision has already been taken to launch several new routes including Guangzhou, USA, along with increasing more flights to Canada. Buying Airbus aircraft is part of our plan.”
According to Biman sources, the proposal to buy the Airbus aircraft was approved by Biman’s board of directors on May 3. Then on May 6, a joint declaration was signed between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom in London. It was later reported that Biman will buy eight passenger aircraft from Airbus by 2030. Two more cargo aircraft will be purchased at a later date subject to negotiation.
Sources at the meeting said two Airbuses will join the fleet in 2026. The rest will come in phases. Now a profile will be sent to the Prime Minister’s office adding various technical issues including procurement method, price, and source of finance.
State Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism Md. Mahbub Ali recently said, “Initially two Airbuses will be brought. We have asked for 10 aircraft in phases. The technical committee is now evaluating. These aircraft will be used on new and old routes.”