Biman Bangladesh Airlines has dropped a plan to modernise its domestic fleet with ATR or Bombardier turboprops and is instead seeking to expand its Fokker F28 Mk4000 fleet by two.
The state-owned Bangladeshi flag carrier has issued international tenders calling for offers on two F28 Mk4000 twinjets, which it hopes to use on domestic flights. Offers are due by 17 January.
Biman plans to use the additional F28s to replace two BAe ATP turboprops, both produced in 1990. Its three existing F28 Mk4000s were built between 1977 and 1981.
The carrier has been trying to sell its ATPs for some time and local reports say a tentative agreement has been reached with an unidentified UK company.
Biman had previously said it planned to dispose of its F28s and was seeking to lease or purchase three ATR 72-500s or Bombardier Dash 8 Q400s. The airline has faced intense domestic competition from privately owned GMG Airlines, which operates Dash 8s.
Source: Flight International
