DHAKA: National flag carrier Biman’s newly inducted ‘Meghdut’ and ‘Mayurpankhi’ of Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina will now fly around the world.
These two new generation airplanes are going to be added to the fleet.
Names of the carriers have already become known in the aviation circle because the names were given by the Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina herself.
She will remain present in the inaugural flights of these national flag carriers on Tuesday (January 12). The inaugural function of the maiden flights will be arranged at the VVIP lounge of Hazrat Shahjalal International airport at 10:30am on the day.
This 162-seat new generation carrier 737-800 will fly in international routes.
The officials of civil aviation and tourism ministry told banglanews that Biman authorities signed a deal with US Boeing giant in 2008 to purchase 10 airplanes.
According to the earlier signed deal, four carriers 777-300 Palki, Arun Alo, Akash Pradip and Ranga Prabhat are already in Biman fleet.
Declaration of the ongoing year as ‘Tourism Year’ and the addition of new aircrafts have enchanted the civil aviation and tourism minister Rashed Khan Menon.
The minister told banglanews, ‘We want to enter into a new era in tourism sector. He hoped that ‘Meghdut’ and ‘Mayurpankhi’ will play an important role in this endeavor of Biman.
The officials further said that two Boeing dreamliners will be added in 2017 and two more dreamliners are likely to be added in 2019. Biman also wants to procure the giant airbus 380.
Prime Minister had earlier on last April 5 announced the addition of these new ‘prides’. On that day she inaugurated the domestic flights of two carriers.
Moreover, Biman hired two planes from foreign airliners company. The 76 seat Dash 8 Q 400 model carriers are now operating in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar and three other destinations of the country.
On that inaugural function the premier said, ‘We must ensure the services to the passengers and keep the fame of Biman in-tact’.
She further said, ‘We must keep a close supervision on the maintenance of the aircraft to be done as per international standard. We must earn the confidence and trust of the passenger,’ she added.
BDST: 1510 HRS, JAN 11, 2016
Shahjahan/RR
