Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the maiden flight of the country’s first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, “Akash Beena,” at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
“Bangladesh is moving ahead and will press forward,” Hasina said in her speech while inaugurating the flight on Wednesday afternoon.
She asked the authorities concerned to prioritise the security of flight operations.
Earlier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Board of Directors Chairman Air Marshal (retd) Muhammad Enamul Bari said “Akash Beena” will fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after the inauguration.
The superlight aircraft is designed to be 20% more fuel-efficient than similar-sized planes— and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for a maximum of 271 passengers— including in-flight WiFi services.
Biman Managing Director and CEO AM Mosaddique Ahmed said three more aircraft will join the fleet of the national flag carrier soon.
He said Akash Beena will initially operate on the Dhaka-Singapore and Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur routes every day of the week.
The fare for economy class tickets on the Dreamliner’s Singapore flight has been set at $200 (excluding taxes and other surcharges), while the same tickets for the Kuala Lumpur route will be sold at $290.
Biman received the delivery of its first Dreamliner on August 19. The aircraft flew directly to Dhaka from Boeing’s factory in the US city of Seattle—in 15 hours.
Courtesy: dhakatribune
