Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Gangchil, the third Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, is set to spread its wings on Thursday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the aircraft through a function at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka at 11:30 am on Thursday, report BSS and UNB.
After the inauguration, ‘Gangchil’ will fly to Dubai in its maiden flight at 5:00 pm on the day, said Tasmin Akhter, manager (Public Relations) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, on Wednesday.
The third Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was added to the Biman’s fleet as 15th aircraft of the national flag carrier on July 25. It landed at HISA directly from the USA’s Seattle’s Boeing Factory in the afternoon on the day.
The Prime Minister named all of the Dreamliners, the sources said.
Earlier, the first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, named as ‘Akash Beena’, arrived here in August last year, while the second one known as ‘Hangsabalaka’ arrived in December last.
In 2008, Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed a US$2.1 billion agreement with Boeing to purchase 10 new aircraft.
Among those, Boeing has already delivered four 777-300ER’s and two 737-800’s and three Dreamliners to Biman.
The fourth Dreamliner ‘Rajhangsha’, the last one of the 10 new aircraft, will be added to the Biman’s fleet next month, the sources said.
Gangchil, the 271-seat Boeing 787-8, has been designed as 20 per cent fuel efficient carrier compared to the other aircraft.
It has 24 business class and 247 economy class seats. The business class seats can be flattened to 180 degrees straight.
The airliner has the capacity to fly 16 hours nonstop with an average speed of 650 miles per hour.
It provides 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.