Immediately after the independence, Biman Bangladesh Airlines started its journey on 4th January 1972 with a DC-3 aircraft. After procuring two F-27s, Biman finally took-off on 7th March 1972 with domestic flights to Chittagong and Sylhet from its base at Dhaka. Shortly after, a Boeing 707 aircraft joined the airline’s fleet, allowing Biman to begin international flights. By end of the Seventies, Biman had a fleet of 8 F27 and 5 Boeing 707 to serve domestic and international destinations.
The Eighties was the new era of building Biman fleet with new Fokker 28-4000 in 1981, wide-bodied three DC10-30s joined in 1983, one new DC10-30 joined in 1989. In early 1990, Biman phased out its aging F27 and purchased two new ATPs to serve domestic and some regional destinations. In 1996 Biman also purchased two new Airbus 310-300 from Airbus Company and phased out its ATPs in 2004.
In order to modernize Biman fleet with new generation aircraft, Biman signed two agreements with Boeing in April and May 2008 for purchasing new generation 4 X 777-300ER, 4 X 787-8 and 2 X 737-800 aircraft. Three 777-300ER aircraft joined Biman fleet in October/November 2011 and February 2014. The 4th 777-300ER is being delivered on 21 March 2014. Besides, two 737-800s and four new 787-8s are scheduled to be delivered by Boeing in November/December 2015 and 2019-2020. Currently Biman is operating 02 domestic and 18 international destinations.
Biman signed an agreement with Egypt Air Holding Company for dry lease of two 777-200ER aircraft, which were added to the fleet as of March 2014. Biman is in a bid to operate more domestic destinations, as such procuring two Turbo-Prop aircraft.
Biman has already phased out vintage F28 and DC10-30 aircraft from its fleet as a part of fleet modernization. The airline operates its own ancillary and maintenance facilities at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Air
Transport the aviation industry of Bangladesh started its operations just
after independence in 1972 at Tejgaon Airport in Dhaka with only one aircraft.
Later, the Zia International Airport at Kurmitola, Dhaka was constructed to
cope with the increasing international and domestic travel demand and was
opened for traffic in early 1980. The name of the airport was changed to Hazrat
Shah Jalal International airport in 2009. Aviation infrastructure is developed
and maintained by the civil aviation authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).
There
are eight conventional (full-size) airports, eight airports for STOL
(short take-off and landing) aircraft and some heliports in thana headquarters.
Airports at Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet operate international flights. Other
airports are used for domestic flights only. These are Jessore, Saidpur,
Rajshahi, Cox's bazaar and Barisal airports. A number of development
projects were implemented from 1992 to 2010, which include runways, extension
of international passenger terminal building, installation of boarding bridges,
installation of ILS, AMSS at Zia International Airport and construction of a
new airport at Barisal and STOL airports at Bogra and Mongla. Besides, Amanat
Shah Airport at Chittagong and the Osmany Airport at Sylhet were developed into
International airports during the period.
Hazrat
Shah Jalal International Airport, having 1981 acre of land, near Dhaka is the largest
airport of the country. It serves more than half a million passengers every
year. Nearly 52% of the country's international and domestic arrivals and
departures take place through this central airport. The country's second
largest international airport at Chittagong handles about 17% of the
passengers.
Until
recently, the national flag carrier biman bangladesh airlines Limited (BBAL)
is still now the only airline in Bangladesh. BBA covers 30 internationals and 7
domestic destinations and possesses a fleet of a dozen aircrafts including
DC-10, one Boeing 777, two Boeing 737, two airbus A310, F-28 and ATP planes
though it has signed with 43 countries.
Since
1993, the government of Bangladesh has been allowing private companies to offer
air transportation services. GMG Airlines, Best Air, United Airways and Regent
Airways are now in operation in the private sector.
www.biman-airlines.com
|
Type
|
Regn. No.
|
Business
Seating
|
Economy
Seating
|
|
777-300ER
|
S2-AFO
|
35
|
384
|
|
777-300ER
|
S2-AFP
|
35
|
384
|
|
777-300ER
|
S2-AHM
|
35
|
384
|
|
777-300ER
|
S2-AHN
|
35
|
384
|
|
777-200ER
|
S2-AHK
|
12
|
307
|
|
777-200ER
|
S2-AHL
|
12
|
307
|
|
737-800
|
S2-AFL
|
12
|
150
|
|
737-800
|
S2-AFM
|
12
|
150
|
|
737-800
|
S2-AHO
|
12
|
150
|
|
737-800
|
S2-AHV
|
12
|
150
|
|
DASH-8
|
S2-AGQ
|
N/A
|
74
|
|
DASH-8
|
S2-AGR
|
N/A
|
74
|
