Prime minister Sheikh Hasina launches ‘Gaangchil’, Biman’s third Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, at the VVIP Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on Thursday.
During the launching program, Prime minister asked authorities of the national flag carrier to enhance its reputation by improving passenger services further terming the carrier as the ‘Symbol of Independence’.
The third Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, the 15th aircraft of the national flag carrier, was added to the Biman’s fleet on July 25. It landed at HISA directly from the USA’s Seattle’s Boeing Factory in the afternoon on the day.
Earlier, the first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, named as ‘Akash Beena’, arrived here in August last year, while the second one known as ‘Hangsabalaka’ arrived in December last.
In 2008, Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed a US$2.1 billion agreement with Boeing to purchase 10 new aircraft. Of those, Boeing has already delivered four 777-300ER’s, two 737-800’s and three Dreamliners to Biman.
The fourth Dreamliner ‘Rajhangsha’, the last one of the 10 new aircraft, will be added to the Biman’s fleet next month.
Gangchil, a 271-seat Boeing 787-8, has been designed as 20 percent fuel efficient carrier compared to the other aircraft. The airliner has the capacity to fly 16 hours nonstop with an average speed of 650 miles per hour.
It provides its passengers with WiFi services at a height of 43,000 feet, allowing passengers to browse the internet or connect with their friends and family at any end of the world.
State minister for civil aviation and tourism Mahbub Ali, civil aviation and tourism secretary Mohibul Haque, chairman of board of directors of Biman air marshal (retd) Muhammad Enamul Bari, Managing director and CEO of Biman Captain Farhat Hasan Jamil were also present at the ceremony along with the US ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller.
