Dhaka: Biman Bangladesh Airlines has decided to add three new aircraft, including two wide-bodied ones, to its fleet aiming to expand its wings to more destinations.

According to sources at Biman, these aircraft would help the national flag carrier to fill the gap after the phasing out of two Airbus aircraft from its fleet within the next year.

Currently, Biman has two decades-old A310-300 aircraft in its fleet, one having the seat capacity of 198 while another of 196.

Biman has recently floated three separate tenders to procure three Boeing-made aircraft on dry-lease basis for 60 months, beginning from July next.

According to the tender paper, the 777-300ER will have 419 seats, while 777-200ER 319 seats and 737-800 162 seats.

A Biman senior official told UNB that the 737-800 will be used on Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Kathmandu routes while another two wide-bodied aircraft would be used mainly on the routes of Middle Eastern countries.

‘Qatar is expected to be in need of huge manpower for the construction of various big infrastructures as it's going to host the Football World Cup in 2022. Many Bangladeshi workers to go to Qatar in this regard. Biman has already increased its frequencies to Doha (capital of Qatar). So, these aircraft will also be used there,’ he said.

He also said Bangladesh recently signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia over sending Bangladeshi workers to the Gulf country under 12 categories after a lapse of seven long years.

The Biman official said the national flag carrier has a plan to launch flights to Guangzhou in China, Madina in Saudi Arabia, Colombo in Sri Lanka and Male in the Maldives.

He said a survey on Madina market has been completed and flight on the route to be launched soon.

About the Colombo and Male routes, he mentioned that a good number of Bangladeshi tourists travel to these destinations, while the Maldives is also a good market for Bangladeshi manpower. ‘Biman wants to grab the market,’ he said.

The 777-300ER and 777-200 ER will be used on the Dhaka-London-Dhaka route as the frequencies on it has been increased recently with the rise in the number of inbound and outbound passengers of this route has been increased.

Talking about the Tokyo (Japan) route, the Biman official said the air traffic agreement with the authorities concerned has been completed and the government is looking for introducing flights on the route.

Meanwhile, on 18 February, Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed an agreement with Smart Aviation, Egypt to take two Dash8-Q400 aircraft on lease, aiming to resume the national carrier's domestic flight network. The Biman is going to launch flights on its seven domestic routes -- Chittagong, Sylhet, Cox's Bazar, Barisal, Rajshahi, Syedpur and Jessore—on 6 April next. 

With the acquisition of the two Dash8-Q400s, the number of aircraft in Biman fleet now stands at 12 -- four Boeing 777-300ERs, two Airbus A 310-300s, two Boeing 777-200ERs, two Boeing 737-800s and two Dash8-Q400s.