ZCZC
BSS-09
PM-DREAMLINER-VISIT
PM inspects 2nd Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
DHAKA, Dec 5, 2018 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today inspected the
2nd Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner of Biman Bangladesh Airlines at Hazrat Shahjalal
International Airport (HSIA) here this afternoon.
She inspected and boarded the aircraft named ‘Hangsabalaka’ at the VVIP
Tarmac of the HSIA.
After boarding, the premier went round different zones of the aircraft
including the cockpit and talked to the officials of Biman.
A munajat was offered seeking continued peace, progress and prosperity of
the nation on the occasion.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister AKM Shahjahan Kamal, Chairman of the
Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry Muhammad Faruk Khan, senior
officials of the Prime Minister’s Office and Bangladesh Biman were present at
that time.
The new aircraft landed at HSIA on December 1. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
named the aircraft as ‘Hangsabalaka’.
The Dreamliner reached HSIA at 11:40 pm on December 1 as the 15th aircraft
of the national flag carrier after making an uninterrupted 15-hour flight
from the USA’s Seattle’s Boeing Factory.
Earlier, the Boeing authority handed over the ownership of the brand new
aircraft to Biman’s Director (Flight Operation) Captain Farhat Hasan Jamil in
Seattle on November 29.
The aircraft will make its debut on Dhaka-London route on December 10,
Biman officials said.
Earlier, the first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, known as Akash Beena, arrived
here on August 19 opening up a new era of modern aviation with latest modeled
aircraft in Bangladesh Biman.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the aircraft on September 1 last.
The two Dreamliners will operate six flights on Dhaka-London route, four on
Dhaka-Dammam route and three on Dhaka-Bangkok route in a week from December
10, the Biman officials said.
The 271-seat Boeing 787-8 has been designed as 20 percent fuel efficient
carrier than the other aircraft. The airliner has the capacity to fly 16
hours nonstop with an average speed of 650 miles per hour.
It will provide 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.
In 2008, Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed a US$2.1 billion agreement with
Boeing to purchase 10 new aircraft.
Of these, Boeing has already delivered four 777-300ER’s, two 737-800’s and
two Dreamliners to Biman.
Two more Dreamliners — Rajhangsha and Gaangchil — would be added to the
Biman’s fleet by September next, the officials added.
BSS/SH/GMR/1402 hrs