UNB, Dhaka :
The move to induct three Boeing aircrafts into ailing national carrier Biman’s fleet to expand its wings is likely to prove futile once again, even though the national flag carrier has relaxed its age restrictions.
This was the second attempt by Biman to get three Boeing aircraft as part of its fleet.
An earlier tender had failed to evoke any response from suppliers and Biman had to relax its imposed restriction on the age of the aircraft to get three Boeing aircraft on dry lease basis. “Yes, we received some responses, but they are not suitable for us,” a Biman official involved in its planning team told UNB over telephone.
He also said that, the airliner might go for another tender relaxing some conditions.
In its second tender, Biman increased the maximum age of the aircraft it would consider to 12, for three Boeing aircraft it plans to procure. Earlier the maximum age of the aircraft it would consider was set at 10.
Biman had decided to induct three new aircraft for five years on dry lease basis (only the aircraft) in its fleet from July to December this year with a view to expanding to more destinations.
These three aircraft are of the Boeing 737-800, 777-200ER and 777-300 ER series.
According to the tender paper, the 777-300ER will have 419 seats in total, while 777-200ER 319 seats and the 737-800 will have 162 seats. In the first tender document Biman had stated that the commencement of the dry lease would be from July this year.
Our source at Biman said that they planned to induct these three aircrafts as two aged Airbus planes in its fleet would be phased out in the next year. “So we have time to get these aircrafts,” he said.
The two decades-old A310-300s in its fleet have a seating capacity below 200.
Asked about the reason behind the non-availability of suitable aircraft, the Biman official said many international airliners have started inducting aircraft in their fleets to expanding their coverage amid fuel price drop in the international market.
The 737-800 would be used on Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Kathmandu routes, while another two wide-bodied aircraft would be mainly used for the Middle Eastern countries. The 777-300ER and 777-200 ER would be used on Dhaka-London-Dhaka route as the frequency on this route has increased recently.
The move to induct three Boeing aircrafts into ailing national carrier Biman’s fleet to expand its wings is likely to prove futile once again, even though the national flag carrier has relaxed its age restrictions.
This was the second attempt by Biman to get three Boeing aircraft as part of its fleet.
An earlier tender had failed to evoke any response from suppliers and Biman had to relax its imposed restriction on the age of the aircraft to get three Boeing aircraft on dry lease basis. “Yes, we received some responses, but they are not suitable for us,” a Biman official involved in its planning team told UNB over telephone.
He also said that, the airliner might go for another tender relaxing some conditions.
In its second tender, Biman increased the maximum age of the aircraft it would consider to 12, for three Boeing aircraft it plans to procure. Earlier the maximum age of the aircraft it would consider was set at 10.
Biman had decided to induct three new aircraft for five years on dry lease basis (only the aircraft) in its fleet from July to December this year with a view to expanding to more destinations.
These three aircraft are of the Boeing 737-800, 777-200ER and 777-300 ER series.
According to the tender paper, the 777-300ER will have 419 seats in total, while 777-200ER 319 seats and the 737-800 will have 162 seats. In the first tender document Biman had stated that the commencement of the dry lease would be from July this year.
Our source at Biman said that they planned to induct these three aircrafts as two aged Airbus planes in its fleet would be phased out in the next year. “So we have time to get these aircrafts,” he said.
The two decades-old A310-300s in its fleet have a seating capacity below 200.
Asked about the reason behind the non-availability of suitable aircraft, the Biman official said many international airliners have started inducting aircraft in their fleets to expanding their coverage amid fuel price drop in the international market.
The 737-800 would be used on Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Kathmandu routes, while another two wide-bodied aircraft would be mainly used for the Middle Eastern countries. The 777-300ER and 777-200 ER would be used on Dhaka-London-Dhaka route as the frequency on this route has increased recently.
