M Humayun Kabir: Biman Bangladesh Airlines has entered into a new era with its first Boeing 787-8, known as the Dreamliner, joining its fleet at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday.
Biman’s Chairman Air Marshal (retd) Muhammad Enamul Bari, along with its CEO and members of its board of directors, received the new aircraft which reached Dhaka from Seattle’s Boeing factory after15 hours nonstop flying, reports The Daily Star.
Enamul Bari told reporters that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the first flight of the Dreamliner on September 1, slated to fly to Kuala Lumpur.
She is also credited with coming up with the Dreamliner’s name, Akashbeena.
According to Biman’s general manager (public relations) Shakil Meraj, the Dreamliner will fly to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur every day of the week, with flights to Singapore in the morning and Kuala Lumpur in the evening.
Later it will be considered for flights to New York and Canada.
It will provide its passengers with inflight wifi services, allowing passengers to browse the internet or connect with their friends and family at any end of the world.
The chairman also added that the Dreamliner’s economy class fare for its Singapore flight has been set to $200 (excluding taxes and other surcharges) and its Kuala Lumpur flight at $290.
In 2008, Biman Bangladesh Airlines had signed a US$2.1 billion agreement with Boeing to purchase 10 new aircraft, of which Sunday’s Dreamliner was the seventh.
The remaining three 787s are slated to join Biman’s fleet between this November and September next year.
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