Biman’s first Dreamliner arrives

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DHAKA, Aug 19, 2018 (BSS) – The first Boeing 787-8, known as the Dreamliner, reached here today as Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national flag carrier, is set to enter a new era of modern aviation.

As landed at Hazrat Shahjalah International Airport this afternoon after making an uninterrupted fifteen hour flight from Seattle’s Boeing Factory, the brand new aircraft was received with the blowing of water cannons.

The new aircraft, the fifteenth in Biman’s fleet, was received by Biman’s chairman Air Marshal Muhammad Enamul Bari (Retd), along with its CEO and members of its board of directors.

Enamul Bari told journalists 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, Akash Beena.

The aircraft will initially be used to operate flights from Dhaka to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in its first month, after which it will be considered for flights to New York and Canada.

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.

The 271-seat Boeing 787-8 has been designed to be 20 percent fuel efficient than the other aircraft.

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 are slated to join Biman’s fleet by November this year and two more by next year’s September respectively.

Biman’s general manager (public relations) Shakil Meraj said the Dreamliner will fly to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur every day of the week, with flights to Singapore in the morning and Kuala Lumpur later in the evening.