The first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner for Biman Bangladesh Airlines arrived in the country yesterday and was welcomed to the fleet by the airlines' management and staff.
The aircraft landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 05.19 on 19th August after a direct 14½ flight from Boeing's Seattle base. It was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute from the airports fire service and many of the airlines' employees. The aircraft has been called Akashbina.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed a $ 2.1 billion deal in 2008 for the purchase of 10 new aircraft - including four Dreamliners with Boeing. The carrier will receive another example in November this year and another two Dreamliners are due to arrive in September next year. Biman Managing Director and CEO AM Mosaddiq Ahmed said, "The airline added a new milestone by joining the Dreamliner skyline. Biman seeks to provide safe and comfortable services to passengers. The new aircraft will assist the airline in competition with other airlines."
The airline will deploy the aircraft initially on the routes between Dhaka-Singapore and Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur. The first commercial flight will be a Kuala Lumpur service on 1st September which will be launched by the Prime Minister.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines have configured the Boeing 787-8 with 271 seats, spread between 24 lie-flat seats in Business Class 24 and 247 Economy Class. All seats have access to the in-flight entertainment system, provided by Panasonic that will feature 9 TV channels, more than 100 classical blockbuster movies and specially designed video games. The aircraft is also fitted with WiFi so passengers can surf the web at 43,000 feet high, with prices starting from $8 for 100 MB of data.
(photos Biman Bangladesh Airlines)
