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6 new aircraft to be added in Biman: Menon

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon on Wednesday told the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) that Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited (BBAL) would collect six new aircraft for its fleet aimed at making it a profitable organization.In reply to a question from treasury bench lawmaker Enamul Haque of Rajshahi-4 constituency, he said, "The government would bring two 737-800 aircraft from the Boeing company in November-December this year."The national flag carrier would also collect four 787-8 aircraft from the company in 2019-2020 as per an agreement signed between BBAL and Boeing Company earlier, the minister informed the House.During the question and answer session, he said that the government brought four new 777-300 ER aircraft from Boeing as part of the Biman`s modernization initiative.Menon said the government has undertaken various initiatives to make Biman a profitable organization, adding, "We have collected two 777-200 ER aircraft in March-May 2014 on five year lease."Moreover, the Biman brought two dash 8-Q 400 aircraft in April 2015 for operation of the Biman`s flight in the domestic and regional routes, the minister told the House.He said the government started selling of ticket for domestic route from digital centre under the Access to Information (a2i) Programme and signed contract with Option town for selling the rest of unsold tickets on special rate in the last moment from airport.Menon said the Biman also introduced SMS system for its valued passengers so that they are aware about delay of other important information in time.