Deal to procure 14 aircraft from Boeing by 30 April: State minister
The government also decided to open the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka either on 16 December this year or at the beginning of the new year.
The government is working to sign a deal with US-based airplane manufacturer Boeing Company by 30 April to purchase 14 aircraft and take several others on lease from it as part of its efforts to make Biman Bangladesh Airlines a profitable entity.
The premier instructed authorities to turn the national flag carrier into a profitable entity at any cost, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said following a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat today (23 April).
Rashiduzzaman said the decision to launch international flights from Cox's Bazar Airport will be taken after the upcoming national budget is unveiled.
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The state minister said the government is considering implementing a public-private partnership model to increase the profitability of the country's tourist destinations.
Earlier, on 4 April, Rashiduzzaman said the interim government had in principle approved the acquisition of 14 Boeing aircraft, with only the formal signing of the deal remaining.
However, the state minister indicated that the new government may review the Boeing offer before signing the purchase agreement.
Aviation sector insiders said the proposed order, valued at roughly $3.7 billion at list prices, includes a mix of wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliners and narrow-body 737 MAX aircraft, aimed at strengthening both long-haul and regional operations over the next decade.
However, with deliveries expected to take up to five years and extend into the next decade, the government has opted for interim measures, such as leasing, to address immediate fleet shortages.
"To ensure smooth operations during this period, we are planning to lease aircraft, preferably through dry leasing, for the next five years," the state minister said.
The national flag carrier is currently operating international routes with around 19 aircraft, far below the estimated requirement of 30 to 35 aircraft needed to meet growing passenger demand and support planned network expansion, according to sources.
