Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to lease at least two aircraft in the coming months to address an acute shortage of aircraft and meet growing passenger demand as global manufacturers are unable to deliver new aircraft before 2031.
“We will take lease at least two aircraft as global manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing will not be able to deliver new aircraft before 2031,” said Biman’s Managing Director and CEO Md Shafiqur Rahman at a workshop on the Right to Information Act organised by Biman at its head office on Thursday.
“Both Boeing and Airbus have submitted proposals to sell new aircraft to Biman. Our techno-financial committee is currently evaluating their offers. However, they will not be able to deliver any new aircraft before 2031,” he added.
Rahman said Biman has been compelled to turn to lessors to meet its immediate needs. “We need aircraft to meet our current passenger demand. That’s why we have decided to connect directly with aircraft lessors,” he added.
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The Biman CEO also said that the airline is unable to open new routes due to the current shortage of aircraft.
He said Biman’s high-level aircraft procurement committee is examining fresh proposals from both Airbus and Boeing to purchase wide-body and narrow-body aircraft.
Rahman announced that flights on the Dhaka-Narita route will be suspended from July 1 citing financial non-viability.