Biman to appoint int\\\'l agency to handle aircraft procurement

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has decided to appoint an internationally reputed agency to handle procurement and take lease of aircraft on behalf of the airliner in a transparent manner, a top official of the airline has said.
Confirming the decision, Biman Managing Director Kevin Steele told the FE that Biman was trying to source a number of aircraft.
"For example, we have issued four separate Requests for Proposal (RFPs) for turboprops to resume domestic flights on seven routes. We have not been successful so far, because we are only receiving responses from intermediaries, not from the aircraft owners," he said.
Mr Steele said the only recent success they had achieved was taking lease of two B777-200ERs aircraft from Egyptair, the owner of the aircraft.
He said it would be helpful for them if they could hire any international agency to handle procurement and taking lease of aircraft. The Biman has already floated international RFP seeking response from aircraft owning companies.
"If we get any suitable agency, it will go direct to the various aircraft owners, on our behalf. So, we should not see multiple RFPs in the future," Mr Steele said.
Biman officials said the big impediment faced by the national flag carrier recently was its failure to take lease of small- sized aircraft to resume domestic flights on seven routes. After getting no response to the RFP, the Biman board of directors took a decision on obtaining the aircraft through direct negotiations.
However, the decision had turned futile due to some 'difficulties'.
Biman authorities think it would be a better option for them if they can hire an international agency to overcome the hurdles.
"Many airliners follow similar strategy to hire aircraft," a Biman official said.
The government has planned to expand the international routes of Biman by adding aircraft to its fleet and assessing the feasibility of flight operations, sources said. It also has a plan to expand its existing fleet.
The authority has future plans to expand its destinations to New York, Birmingham, Toronto, Guangzhou, Guwahati, Tokyo and Ho Chi Minh City.
Besides, resumption of flights on seven domestic routes is the key priority of the Biman. Among the seven domestic routes Biman suspended its flights on four in 2007 due to continuous losses, and shortage of aircraft. Finally, on September 19, 2012, Biman postponed its flights on three other routes in order to maintain international schedules.
According to the RFP which was floated recently, the successful applicant should negotiate recompense from the aircraft owners/lessors/agents etc without affecting the final price paid by Biman.
The successful applicant must be a fully incorporated company, not an individual, that has been in existence for more than 5 years. Documentary proof should be sent at the time of application, and full details of company ownership are to be provided.
The company must not be owned or partly owned by any one aircraft leasing/ownership source, to ensure full impartiality of aircraft selection, said the RPF adding that the company must have proven track record of placing aircraft from multiple sources, to at least 5 airlines.