Bangladesh’s ailing national carrier Biman will buy eight new Boeing aircraft for US$1.26 billion as part of a fleet overhaul to help make the airline profitable.
"We want to give a new face to Biman," Civil Aviation Minister Mahbub Jamil said."Biman’s board has decided to procure four Boeing 777-300ER and four 787-8aircraft as part of the fleet overhaul. Ouraim is to make Biman profitable by thenext financial year. Already we hope itwill break even this year, as we’ve madeit more efficient".
Boeing will deliver the 463-seat 777-300ER between July and August 2013 and the 294-seat 787-8 between July-December 2017. The eight aircraft will bring Biman’s fleet to a total of 20 aircraft.
US aircraft maker Boeing edged out European rival Airbus for the contract to supply the planes to state-owned Biman, which has been posting huge financial losses and is facing fierce competition from smaller, private rivals.
Biman’s board reviewed bids from both Airbus and Boeing, but chose the US company as it proposed to train pilots, upgrade airports and help in engineering and marketing for Biman as part of the deal, Jamil said.
Biman posted a record loss of more than US$120 million for the financial year ending June 2006 and is expected to announce a US$100 million loss for the following financial year on soaring global fuel prices and higher-than-expected maintenance costs.
"It’s the first time in Biman’s 35-year history that the national flag carrier is purchasing aircraft directly from the manufacturer and it’s being done transparently," Jamil said.
Jamil said the Boeing plane purchases will be financed by the US Export-Import Bank and a syndicate of local banks.