Biman receives leased aircraft

A 512-seater Boeing 747-300, which the Biman Bangladesh Airlines has leased from a Thai airline for one year, has arrived at Zia International Airport last night.
The aircraft belonging to Orient Thai Airlines landed at ZIA at around 9:30pm, a Biman high official told The Daily Star.
Biman signed an agreement with Orient Thai on June 1 to take a lease on the aircraft in a bid to minimise disruption in its flight schedules.
The national flag carrier has been facing serious troubles in maintaining flight schedules due to acute shortage of aircraft for quite some time now. With the leased one, the number of Biman's aircraft will rise to 10.
The leased aircraft will be used to operate Biman's flights to Gulf and Middle East countries.
Under Aircraft-Crew-Maintenance-Insurance (ACMI) lease process, the Orient Thai, which started operations in 2000, will provide staff and crew of the wide-bodied aircraft while Biman will supply fuel.
"As per the lease conditions, Biman will have to pay $5,395 to Orient Thai for per block hour (every flying hour from take-off to landing)," a Biman official said.
Biman currently owns three types of aircraft -- four DC10-30s, two F28s, and two A310-300s.