[🇧🇩] Aviation Industry in Bangladesh

[Saif]

AirArabia plans to expand business in Bangladesh: group CEO

Terming Bangladesh as a key route, group chief executive officer of AirArabia Adel Abdullah Ali has said that his airline was planning to expand business here being optimistic to see its aviation growth....

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AirArabia plans to expand business in Bangladesh: group CEO​

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka | Published: 18:50, Feb 17,2024

-- BSS photo.

Terming Bangladesh as a key route, group chief executive officer of AirArabia Adel Abdullah Ali has said that his airline was planning to expand business here being optimistic to see its aviation growth.

‘The current trend of Bangladesh's aviation growth gives us a positive feeling that it will continue, we are looking at business opportunities...we have more plan regarding Bangladesh,’ he told BSS.

The CEO talked to the national news agency during his recent Dhaka visit marking the maiden tour of Bangladesh by a group CEO of Air Arabia in its 20 years of global and 17 years of operation in Bangladesh.

Ali said that Bangladesh is a suitable place for the aviation business as evidenced by Air Arabia's business growth by three to four per cent year-on-year.

Air Arabia, the first low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa based in Sharjah, UAE, started operations in 2003 by introducing its low-cost business model to the region while it began operations in Bangladesh in 2007.

‘We have been doing business successfully in Bangladesh for the past 17 years. Bangladesh-UAE is one of the key routes of Air Arabia,’ Ali said.

Currently, Air Arabia is operating 57 non-stop weekly flights to and from two Bangladesh destinations - capital Dhaka and Port City Chattogram.

Regarding flight frequency, the group CEO said that AirArabia would think about increasing flights to and from Bangladesh depending on the situation.

He said that when the economy of a country like Bangladesh grew at a quick pace, more airlines come and the frequency of flights also increased, whichwas a win-win situation for everybody.

Currently, AirArbia with seven strategic hubs located in UAE, Morocco, Egypt, Armenia and Pakistan is operating more than 190 international and domestic routes in around 50 countries with the fleet size of 73 Airbus A320 and A321 planes.

The airline has an existing order for a total of 120 Airbus A320 family aircraft - 736 A320neo, 27 A3212neo-LR and 210 A321 XLR - with deliveries starting in 2025.

Ali said AirArbia will cover all European destinations within two years after getting the A321 XLR aircraft that can fly more than 8 hours.

The CEO said that his carrier brought a change the way air travel was perceived in the Arab world by opening it up to all segments of the community and putting air travel within everyone's reach with reasonable ticket price.

He said that the expatriate Bangladeshis in Middle East could visit their families back home once every three years in the past but currently the Air Arabia created the opportunities for them to visit their country even thrice in one year.

It is amongst the world's best-performing airlines in terms of operational efficiency and profitability, he added.

AirArabia regional general manager Rajesh Nurala and the airline's general sales agent (GSA) in Bangladesh MGH CEO Abdur Rahim were present.​

 

[Saif]

Biman to return on Dhaka-Rome route after nine years

Biman Bangladesh Airlines started selling tickets for flights on the Dhaka-Rome-Dhaka route yesterday as the national flag carrier is set to resume operations to connect the country with the European city from March 26.

www.thedailystar.net

Biman to return on Dhaka-Rome route after nine years​

Biman Bangladesh Airlines started selling tickets for flights on the Dhaka-Rome-Dhaka route yesterday as the national flag carrier is set to resume operations to connect the country with the European city from March 26.

Tickets for the route are up for grabs at all of Biman's distribution channels, Biman said in a press release.

On December 21, Biman Managing Director and CEO Shafiul Azim announced the resumption of the flight after nearly nine years from March 26 marking Independence Day.

Between March 26 and March 31, flight BG-355 will depart Dhaka every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 2am local time and reach Rome at 7am local time.

From April 1, the flight will fly from Dhaka on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at 3am as per the summer schedule and arrive in the capital of Italy at 9:10am.

The flight will leave Rome at 10:45am and land in Dhaka at 11:45pm.

The minimum one-way fare on the economy class on the Dhaka-Rome route, including all taxes, will start at Tk 64,355 and the round-trip will cost Tk 104,568. The business class ticket will be priced at Tk 144,105 and Tk 258,568 for the one-way trip and the round trip, respectively.

On the Rome-Dhaka route, the minimum one-way economy class fare will start from Tk 48,788 and Tk 89,852 for the round trip.
The one-way and round-trip fares for the business class will start at Tk 122,663 and Tk 222,236, respectively, the press release said.

Currently, Biman is offering special discounts on the occasion of the resumption of flights on the route. The flight will be operated with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Biman's began to fly to Rome in 1981 and it was discontinued in 2015 due to persisting losses.​

 

[Saif]

Aircraft purchase: Boeing submits proposal to Biman

US Ambassador Peter Haas today said this to Civil Aviation Minister Mohammad Faruk Khan

www.thedailystar.net

Aircraft purchase: Boeing submits proposal to Biman​

File photo

US plane giant Boeing has submitted a proposal to Biman Bangladesh Airlines for selling its aircraft.

US Ambassador Peter Haas today said this to Civil Aviation Minister Mohammad Faruk Khan while paying a courtesy call at his office in the secretariat at the capital.​

​

"Boeing has given a proposal for selling new aircraft to Biman Bangladesh Airlines. We want Boeing to be able to part of the purchasing process and it is done through a transparent competition," Haas told reporters emerging from the meeting.

In response, the civil aviation minister said the US definitely wants more Boeing aircraft to be added to the Biman fleet.

"However, we will consider everything, including the financial and technical aspects, and then take the decision. We will buy aircraft from either Boeing or Airbus, whichever is beneficial for Bangladesh," Faruk said.

Asked when the audit of Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) of US can be completed regarding the resumption of direct flights between Dhaka to New York, the minister said an audit team of International Civil Aviation Organization is currently working at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh.

The minister said Bangladesh and the US will work together as partners to develop the country's tourism and aviation industry.
​

 

[Saif]

AirAsia recognizes Bangladesh’s outstanding 20 top travel agencies

AirAsia celebrates yet another significant milestone, recognizing and applauding the continuous efforts of its travel agents in Bangladesh at the AirAsia Agents Conference 2024....

www.newagebd.net

AirAsia recognizes Bangladesh’s outstanding 20 top travel agencies​

United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka | Published: 22:37, Feb 21,2024

-- UNB photo.

AirAsia celebrates yet another significant milestone, recognizing and applauding the continuous efforts of its travel agents in Bangladesh at the AirAsia Agents Conference 2024.

The event was graced by the presence of esteemed guests, including Thailand ambassador to Bangladesh Makawadee Sumitmor, Group chief executive officer of AirAsia Aviation Group, Bo Lingam, chief revenue and network officer of AirAsia, Paul Carroll, chairman of TAS GrouK M Mozibul Hoque as well as other board members.

Notable dignitaries from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh and embassy officials were also in attendance, highlighting the significance of the occasion held at the prestigious Pan Pacific Sonargaon Ballroom.

Organized by Total Air Services Limited (TAS), a subsidiary of TAS Group, this conference serves as a platform to honour top-performing agents that have excelled in sales through the General Sales Agents (GSA) of AirAsia Malaysia and AirAsia Thailand in Bangladesh.

The AirAsia Grand Agents Grand Conference 2024 also aims to strengthen existing partnerships with agents whilst fostering a sense of community and appreciation, bringing together key stakeholders comprising top travel agencies, airline executives, government officials and industry leaders.

During the conference, AirAsia bestowed prestigious awards to 20 top-performing travel agencies in Bangladesh with pivotal achievements.

These agencies were commended for their exceptional sales performances and steadfast support in promoting AirAsia’s offerings to travellers across the country.

Additionally, AirAsia expressed its heartfelt appreciation to 16 travel agencies for their exemplary sales support, presenting them with certificates of recognition.

AirAsia Aviation Group Limited Group CEO, Bo Lingam said: ‘I would like to wholeheartedly commend the dedicated travel agents in Bangladesh for their continued effort and congratulate our well-deserving agents on their outstanding accomplishments. The diligence of their craft is truly inspiring to us all. Bangladesh is one of our most important markets in Asia, with AirAsia having flown 503,628 guests between Malaysia and Bangladesh to date - and counting. I look forward to welcoming more achievements by the team, further cementing the AirAsia brand in the country.’

Total Air Services Limited has been a trusted partner of AirAsia Malaysia since 2015, serving as the airline’s General Sales Agent in Bangladesh.

Over the years, TAS has demonstrated exceptional dedication and commitment to promoting AirAsia’s services i n the region and beyond.

AirAsia currently operates 14 weekly flights from Dhaka to Kuala Lumpur and 2 weekly flights between Dhaka and Bangkok, providing travelers with convenient and affordable travel options to various destinations.

This strategic partnership between TAS Group and AirAsia continues to drive growth and innovation in the aviation industry, contributing to the development of Bangladesh.​

 

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Dhaka's new 700 crore Thales FIR Radar is now ready to go.



The Dhaka airport will get a modern radar with an air traffic control system in next three years aimed at enhancing the country's airspace safety and security.

The radar currently in use at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport belongs to instrument landing system (ILS) category, while the new one falls under communication, navigation and surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) category.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU), jointly drafted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and radar manufacturer Thales LAS France SAS, was signed on November 3 last year to implement the plan under a government-to-government (G2G) deal.

The procurement proposal was approved at a virtual meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Thursday.

The installation of the radar is expected to take roughly three years and will cost Tk658.4 crore, according to CAAB. The project is expected to be completed by June 2023 with full government funding, according to the MoU.

The agreement would cover the supply, installation and operation of navigation and surveillance systems, including radar and related air traffic management equipment.

According to the deal, the data collected through the radar must be kept secret by the French company to ensure that airspace security is not compromised.

An industry insider, seeking anonymity as he is not authorized to speak to media, said: “We have a long maritime boundary and it’s not possible to charge flights that use our airspace at present. The whole area cannot be covered with the existing radar. On top of that, take-off, landing and traffic management are very risky with this radar.”

The government decided to purchase the new radar after considering all these aspects, he said, adding: “After the new radar is installed, it will be possible to cover our entire maritime area, allowing the government to earn more revenues and ensuring airspace safety.”

The International Court of Arbitration had awarded Bangladesh the right to an area of about 19,000 square kilometers of the Bay of Bengal in 2014.

However, the 37-year-old analogue radar currently installed at the airport cannot detect foreign aircrafts flying over the sea, according to CAAB.

The new radar will increase surveillance over Bangladesh’s territorial waters and airspace. It will also allow Bangladesh to collect fines from trespassing aircrafts, which are required to pay a minimum of $500 for a single infringement.

Moreover, the new system will be able to detect aircrafts that are landing or taking off. Such procedures have to be conducted with an element of risk due to the current radar’s inability to detect such activity.

 

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[Saif]

Work underway for smart aviation industry: Faruk Khan

Civil aviation and tourism minister Muhammad Faruk Khan today (Sunday) said that efforts are underway to transform the country's aviation industry to smart, efficient and service oriented one. "To make Bangladesh's aviation sector into a smart one, we are emphasizing on creating skilled manpow

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Work underway for smart aviation industry: Faruk Khan​

BSS

Published :​

Feb 25, 2024 22:26

Updated :​

Feb 25, 2024 22:26

Civil aviation and tourism minister Muhammad Faruk Khan today (Sunday) said that efforts are underway to transform the country's aviation industry to smart, efficient and service oriented one.

"To make Bangladesh's aviation sector into a smart one, we are emphasizing on creating skilled manpower, developing infrastructure and modern security systems at all airports," he said.

The minister told a meeting with the representatives of foreign airlines operating flights to or from Bangladesh held at the Parjatan Bhaban in the capital, a press release said.

Emphasizing on the providing optimum service towards the passengers, Khan said that airlines should be alert for reducing unnecessary harassment of passengers.

"I believe, working all together, every airline can operate flights from Bangladesh more easily, safely and efficiently... It will be easy to fulfill the goal of transforming Bangladesh into a major aviation hub under the leadership of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina", he said.

Talking about the profit remitting of the foreign airliners from Bangladesh, Faruk Khan said the ministry is working with the Bangladesh Bank in this regard.

He said some portion of the airlines profit has already been remitted from Bangladesh while process is ongoing to increase the amount.

Besides, the minister assured that he will discuss with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) about the different taxation matters and easy and prompt custom clearance of aviation related equipment which are imported by the airlines.

Khan said the effort to upgrade Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) from Category-1 to Category-2 for Instrument Landing System (ILS) is underway for safe landings.

Besides, he said the ILS system has been installed in the airports in Sylhet, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar.

Feasibility study of constructing the dependent runway of HSIA has been completed and soon the next phase of this work will start soon, he added.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Md Mokammel Hossain, Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman and Biman Bangladesh Airlines CEO and Managing Director Shafiul Azim were also present, among others.​

 

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Dhaka Airport 3rd Terminal getting ready for handover in April 2024 passenger service later in the year.

 

[Bilal9]

Biman to fly all-women flight​

Muktadir Rashid | Published: 00:10, Mar 08,2024

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is preparing for an all-women operated flight to Saudi city Dammam from Dhaka today to mark International Women’s Day.

The Biman officials said that their flight BG-349 would be operated by two female pilots and their on board service would be given by female cabin crew while the ground handling service would be given by female colleagues.

Captain Aliya Mannan would fly the aircraft Boeing 787, officials said.

First officer Fariha Tabassum, who will be the co-pilot on the flight, said that this would be a rare type of flight when all cockpit and cabin crew were all female.

Biman’s first female general manager for public relations, Tahera Khondoker, said that over 13 per cent of their total 4,038 permanent and contractual employees were female and serving currently in all departments with equal rights and benefits.

Among them, 345 women are serving as female cabin crew.

Tahera said that 15 female pilots were also serving as captains or first officers, amounting to 10 per cent of total pilots at the national flag carrier.

One of the female pilots said that it was inspiring when people celebrated the contribution of female pilots or professionals, but many hardships and discrimination went untold.

She said that many airlines were still not hiring female pilots when the global average of female pilots was six per cent.

The Sydney-based Centre for Aviation stated that women pilots’ share of United States airline pilot licences had grown over 20 years, rising from 3.3 per cent in 2002 to 4.9 per cent in 2023.

German company Statista Research Department stated in November 2023 that India was the leading country in terms of female pilots in the world in 2021, with roughly 12.4 per cent of Indian pilots being female.

During the period, only 4.7 per cent of pilots in the United Kingdom were female.

The number of female pilots is still low in Bangladesh.

The largest private airline, US-Bangla airlines, initially tried to promote Bangladeshi female pilots, but three of them left the airlines while one died in a crash in Nepal.
‘We have two female pilots of foreign nationality,’ said a top executive of the airline.

The US-Bangla recruited one female Bangladesh trainee who is now in the United States for flying training, the executive added.

Likewise, Novoair has only two first officers, while Air Astra has only one first officer, Shajidina Sultana Sony.

Kaniz Fatema Roksana was the first Bangladeshi female commercial pilot.

 

[Saif]

Russia keen to have Dhaka-Moscow direct air connectivity

Russia on Thursday showed keen interest to establish direct air-connectivity between Dhaka and Moscow to enhance people-to-people ties between two friendly countries.....

www.newagebd.net

Russia keen to have Dhaka-Moscow direct air connectivity
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka | Published: 22:11, Mar 14,2024

Russia on Thursday showed keen interest to establish direct air-connectivity between Dhaka and Moscow to enhance people-to-people ties between two friendly countries.

Russian ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy expressed this interest during a meeting with Bangladesh civil aviation and tourism minister Muhammad Faruk Khan held at the secretariat in Dhaka, said a press release.


Pointing out that every year a huge number of Russian tourists visit different countries, Mantytskiy said that Russian visitors would prefer to visit Bangladesh above other Russian neighbours if direct air connectivity was established between the two nations.

Besides, Mantytskiy said that his country also wanted to be a partner in the development journey of Bangladesh’s growing aviation industry and was ready to extend any type of assistance including technical support in this regard.

In reply, minister Faruk Khan welcomed the Russian keenness of establishing direct Dhaka-Moscow air connectivity as well as Russian partnership in Bangladesh’s aviation industries.


He said that decision would be made regarding the direct air connectivity after holding discussion between respective authorities of both countries by maintaining the international rules and regulations.

The minister said that his ministry was working to make Bangladesh an aviation hub as the country was situated in the international aviation route.

Moreover, he said that in the last 15 years, Bangladesh made enormous development in the aviation sector and achieved the international standard.​

 

[Saif]

Germany keen to provide technical support in aviation sector

Germany has shown its interest in providing technical assistance to Bangladesh to accelerate the government’s ‘Smart Bangladesh’ initiative. German Ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Troster expressed his interest when he met Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muham

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Germany keen to provide technical support in aviation sector​

FE ONLINE DESK

Published :​

Mar 20, 2024 20:18

Updated :​

Mar 20, 2024 20:18

Germany has shown its interest in providing technical assistance to Bangladesh to accelerate the government’s ‘Smart Bangladesh’ initiative.

German Ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Troster expressed his interest when he met Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan at his office at the secretariat on Wednesday, BSS reports citing a press release.

The ambassador said his country is working with Bangladesh in economic, technical, training, and various sectors.

Achim said that Germany would provide technical support for the development of Bangladesh's growing aviation industry.

“We are also planning to provide training to create skilled technical staff in this sector. We are keen to act as the 'Modern Logistics Partner' of the Aviation Industry of Bangladesh to accelerate the steps taken by the government to build 'Smart Bangladesh',” he added.

The aviation and tourism minister mentioned that the growth of Bangladesh's aviation industry has more than doubled in the last 15 years.

The present government is working seriously for the proper growth and development of this industry, he added.

He appreciated Germany’s proposal to provide technical assistance in the aviation sector of Bangladesh.

“In this regard, the concerned departments will take actions according to the law and discussion,” he said.​

 

[Saif]

Fly Dhaka set to become country’s newest private airline: CEO

A new airline, Fly Dhaka Airlines, is set to take off by November this year and become the country’s 12th private airline operator to enter the industry in the past 25 years

www.thedailystar.net

Fly Dhaka set to become country’s newest private airline: CEO​

A new airline, Fly Dhaka Airlines, is set to take off by November this year and become the country's 12th private airline operator to enter the industry in the past 25 years.

"We are all set to spread wings of Fly Dhaka as a new airline by November this year," Lt General (retd) Molla Fazle Akbar, chief executive officer of Fly Dhaka Airlines, told The Daily Star.

"Prioritising safe travel coupled with affordability, the airline has already secured its aircraft and is actively addressing various pertinent matters pertaining to the acquisition of the Air Operator's Certificate (AOC)," Fazle Akbar also said.

The airline is advancing through the personnel recruitment process, he added.

"Our aim is not only to establish a robust presence in the domestic market but also to extend our reach to the global arena," he also said. "Towards this end, negotiations with a giant Asian airline is already underway."

The airline plans to commencing operations on domestic routes with ATR 72-600 model aircraft.

Subsequently, for international services, Fly Dhaka Airlines intends to induct Airbus/Boeing aircraft, thereby ensuring safety, efficiency and reliability in its global operations.

Anisul Islam Mahmud, a Jatiya Party lawmaker and a businessman, is the owner of the airlines.

As per the rules, the airlines will get permission to operate flights on international routes after operating flights on domestic routes for at least one year.

In the last 25 years, at least eight private airlines were forced to cease their operation for cash crunch, the latest being Regent Airways in 2022.

With Fly Dhaka coming into operation, the total number of private airlines operating in the country will be four. The three other airlines are Novo Air, US-Bangla Airlines and Air Astra.​

 

[Bilal9]

Biman dreams of flying farther, buying 26 new aircraft by 2034

In view of a surge in international air travel and competition from foreign airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the country's national carrier, is all set to execute a decade-long ambitious plan that involves purchasing at least 26 new aircraft and route expansion.

Biman's fleet would grow from existing 21 to 47 aircraft by 2034, marking a 122% growth, according to the new plan recently approved by the Biman Board of Directors.

The fleet will see the addition of at least eight aircraft with 300 seats, six with 270 seats, six with 160 seats, four with 70 seats, and one with 400 seats.
With their addition, Biman's seating capacity will more than double, exceeding the current capacity of 5,000 passengers per day.

Aligned with the government's objective of transforming Bangladesh into an aviation hub, Biman wants to broaden its reach through new aircraft on new routes, including Australia and New York.

Shafiul Azim, managing director and CEO of Biman, told TBS, "The 10-year fleet and route expansion plan has been under consideration for several years. It was approved during the 300th board meeting, held recently. The plan can be revised at any time."

"We plan to add two to three aircraft into the fleet annually. The routes are already mapped out, we just need to initiate operations," he said.

Biman sources indicate that the company is actively assessing proposals from both Airbus and Boeing for acquiring new aircraft. This suggests a move towards fleet diversification for Biman, which is currently dominated by Boeing aircraft.

The national flag carrier has primarily decided to buy 10 Airbus A350 widebody planes, including two cargo freighters, from Airbus, following a proposal from the European manufacturing giant. It also formed a techno-financial committee on 5 March to evaluate the purchase offer.

Following Airbus, its global competitor Boeing has also presented its new proposal to the airline.

"The major advantage lies in avoiding upfront cash payments for aircraft purchases. Previously, we made regular instalments for purchased aircraft. Even with new purchases, it remains the same," said Shafiul Azim.

The Biman MD stressed the necessity of acquiring new aircraft to remain competitive in the aviation market. "While we sit idle, neighboring countries like India, Thailand, and Vietnam are rapidly expanding their fleets, targeting our market," he said.

Currently, local airlines, including Biman, secure only 20%–25% of the aviation sector's business in the country, with foreign carriers dominating the remaining share.

With a notable surge in international passenger numbers, the national carrier, along with several other local airlines, is gearing up to harness the business opportunities by competing with foreign carriers.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, the country's airports witnessed a record-breaking 17.4 million air passengers last year, with a majority being international travelers, indicating a nearly 23.4% year-on-year growth.

The count of international passengers, encompassing both Bangladeshis and foreign nationals, surged by approximately 2.67 million in 2023, reflecting a 30% increase from the previous year and a 37% rise compared to the pre-COVID-19 period.

Sector insiders attributed the growth of air travel to and from Bangladesh to factors such as record labor exports, rising educational migration, outbound medical and leisure tourism, and business travel.

A massive Tk32,000 crore investment in airport development, including a brand new third terminal for the Dhaka airport, is creating exciting opportunities for Biman.

This infrastructure boom is fueling the airline's ambitions to expand its network across South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and even Europe.

New routes coming

Currently, Biman operates flights on 22 international routes covering three continents: North America, Europe, and Asia. The airline is now preparing to start operations in Australia.

Biman MD Shafiul Azim said, "Dhaka to Vietnam/Korea via Narita, a city on the eastern outskirts of Tokyo, Japan, could be a new route. Dhaka-Indonesia-Sydney is being considered as a new route, with preparations already in progress for a route to New York."

He further mentioned plans to expand routes in the future, including destinations like Male, Sydney, Kunming, Yangon, and New York. Additionally, arrangements are being made for code-sharing with Bahrain.

Code sharing is a marketing arrangement in which an airline places its designator code on a flight operated by another airline, and sells tickets for that flight.

Over the past two years, Biman initiated flight operations to Toronto in Canada, Narita in Japan, and Guangzhou in China. A direct flight to Rome, Italy, commenced on 27 March.

From configuration to cost of Airbus aircraft

The Airbus A220, featuring a capacity of 100-150 seats and a 2-3 economy configuration, was engineered to offer a wide body experience. It comes in two variations, each with distinct list prices.

According to Simple Flying, an international aviation news portal, the smaller A220-100 is estimated to cost around $81 million, whereas the larger and more sought-after A220-300 is priced at $91.5 million.

The Airbus A320 family of aircraft are best suited for short to medium-haul flights and can carry between 100 and 240 passengers. They are designed to compete against the Boeing 737 series in the commercial aircraft market.

At list price, the A320ceo is priced at $101 million, while the A320neo is listed at $110.6 million.

The smallest and rarest of the Airbus A320 family, the A318, is also the cheapest of Airbus' offerings. The plane, known as the Baby Bus, has a list price of $77.5 million.

Biman MD Shafiul Azim said there is a global standard practice for airline acquisitions. Aircraft are typically not purchased outright with cash; instead, regular instalments are made, particularly for those acquired from Boeing.

Azim said financing is arranged through a bank, emphasizing that this arrangement differs from a conventional loan. Both the bank and the aircraft manufacturing company are parties to the agreement.

"Currently, we are managing the instalments for our existing aircraft. Last year, Biman settled full instalments for two aircraft," he added.

 

[Bilal9]