The Biman's newly formed board of directors would hold a meeting soon and make decision in this regard, a Biman high official told The Daily Star yesterday.

"We are thinking about leasing new aircraft," the Biman official said, adding, "We are also thinking about buying aircraft through lease-to-purchase."

Biman will increase frequency of flights on high-yielding routes, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of Biman MA Momen told The Daily Star yesterday about Biman's initial plans.

Biman will also take initiatives to use more of its Air Service Agreements with different countries and resume some routes which are currently suspended, Biman sources said. Biman has such agreements with 42 countries but it is only using 18 of them, the source added.

Under the Company Act, Biman's board of directors from now on would take its own decisions including procurement of new aircraft. Due to red tape, Biman could not buy new generation aircraft before, airline sources said.

Momen earlier told The Daily Star that replacing antiquated aircrafts with new generation ones is imperative to remaining competitive in the aviation business. The CEO and MD hoped that the independence of the CEO would not be compromised through government intervention.

Biman's aircraft get grounded frequently due to technical faults. The aging fleet is made up of mostly 17-19-year-old aircraft and two relatively new planes.

Biman owns three types of aircraft--four McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30s, four Fokker F-28, and three Airbus A310-300s. Production of DC10-30s and F-28s has been discontinued as airlines do not find it viable to run these aircraft anymore.

Of the 11 aircraft in Biman's fleet, only six are operating and the rest are grounded.

A competent source in Biman told The Daily Star yesterday that the $22 million Biman is expected to get from an insurance company as compensation for the Airbus accident in Dubai on March 12, will be used for buying new planes.

"Biman will get two aircraft from Phukhet Air on lease to run Hajj flights; Biman might extend the duration of lease of those two Boeings to run its international flights," the source said.