In a significant development for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US aviation giant Boeing has presented a proposal for the sale of its aircraft to the national carrier.
The announcement came during a meeting between US Ambassador Peter Haas and Civil Aviation Minister Mohammad Faruk Khan, held at the secretariat in the capital.
Ambassador Haas affirmed Boeing’s interest in participating in a transparent competition for the procurement process. “Boeing has given a proposal for selling new aircraft to Biman Bangladesh Airlines. We want Boeing to be able to be part of the purchasing process and it is done through a transparent competition,” he stated to reporters after the meeting.
Minister Khan welcomed the proposal, highlighting the US’s desire to see more Boeing aircraft in Biman’s fleet. However, he emphasized that the decision would be made considering various factors, including financial and technical aspects. “We will buy aircraft from either Boeing or Airbus, whichever is beneficial for Bangladesh,” Khan assured.
Responding to inquiries regarding the resumption of direct flights between Dhaka and New York, Minister Khan mentioned ongoing audits by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh. The completion of these audits is seen as a crucial step towards the restoration of direct air connectivity between the two destinations.
Furthermore, Minister Khan underscored the commitment of Bangladesh and the US to collaborate as partners in developing the country’s tourism and aviation sectors, indicating a promising future for bilateral cooperation in these areas.
