Biman flights to NY, five other routes by middle of this year

FE Report | Published: January 28, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

The Bangladesh Biman Airlines is going to start flights on six new destinations including New York by the middle of this year.
"We are going to start a number of new destinations this summer. Flights on Frankfurt route will be started in April with twice weekly flights via Rome and tickets should be on sale in a few days. We also have planned to start flights to Guangzhou, Kunming in China, and Guwahati in India later in the summer," Managing Director (MD) of Biman Kevin Steele told this at a press briefing at the Biman head office in the city Monday.
To resume New York flight, the Biman will lease two B777-200ERs from the Egypt Air for 5 years.
"We hope to sign the lease in the next few days, with one aircraft arriving in February, and another one in March. These aircraft will be operating our twice-weekly Dhaka-Birmingham-New York flights this summer," the Biman MD informed. The Biman's New York flights were grounded in 2006.
Mr Steele said the Biman will receive one Boeing on February 5 and another will join its fleet by the third week of March.
"I am very happy to inform that delivery of the two brand new B777-300ERs is now complete, all paperwork and approvals are done, and we will receive the third Boeing in Seattle on February 5. It will land in Dhaka on February 7. The next (fourth) aircraft is due to be delivered in the third week of March," he added.
About the two-day 'old and new airplane' ceremony to bid farewell to the DC-10 and to receive a brand new Boeing 777-300ER, the Biman MD said: "Our last DC 10 will be flying to Birmingham from Dhaka on February 20. Before its departure, we will have a ceremony on the ramp at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, with the DC 10 alongside our new Boeing, sometime between February 9 and 12."
Mr Steele said resumption of operations on seven domestic routes is facing further delay due to the failure of leasing two turboprop aircraft.
The Biman MD again ruled out any allegation of corruption against him and the high officials of the airlines.
"It is disappointing to note that a very tiny percentage of the press is making slanderous accusations against me for corrupt practices in the selection of the General Sales Agents (GSAs). These are completely untrue," he said.
In response to a query about corruption among the high-ups of the Biman, Mr Steele said he has no knowledge about it and the Biman Chairman has no relation with any irregularity.