Peter Haas seeks fair competition for Boeing in Biman fleet renewal
FE REPORT | Wednesday, 7 February 2024
US Ambassador Peter D Haas has requested the government to consider fair competition between American multinational Boeing and its European competitor Airbus for the renewal of Biman Bangladesh Airlines' fleet.
According to the US ambassador, this request underscores the US desire for continued partnership with Bangladesh in tourism and civil aviation development.
Following a meeting with Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan at the Secretariat on Tuesday, Ambassador Haas said, "Our sole request is for fair competition, allowing Boeing to compete with Airbus for the best possible deal for Bangladesh, Biman and taxpayers."
While talking to journalists, Minister Faruk Khan mentioned the US preference for a greater Boeing inclusion in Biman's fleet.
He, however, said that the government will prioritise the "best possible deal" in terms of financial and technical aspects.
"The US seeks increased Boeing presence in Biman," Faruk Khan said, "but during the purchase, we will consider the best offer for Bangladesh, whether from Boeing or Airbus."
Both Ambassador Haas and Minister Khan highlighted the strong US-Bangladesh partnership and their ability to resolve past disagreements and mismatches for the sake of mutual friendship.
Regarding the resumption of Biman flights to the US, the civil aviation minister said discussions focused on strengthening tourism and civil aviation ties between the two countries, particularly restoring Biman's New York slot for direct flights.
The minister also informed journalists that following the completion of an ongoing audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a team from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be invited for a subsequent audit.
In a separate meeting, Australian High Commissioner to Dhaka Nardia Simpson expressed her country's willingness to launch direct flights to Australia, citing the presence of 80,000 Bangladeshi expatriates residing there.