Bangladesh News Bangladesh plans to buy aircraft from Airbus

[yf120]

Hasina, Macron Seal Deal on Aircraft that Bangladesh Doesn’t Need, Cannot Afford

The French PM secured a lucrative contract for Airbus. In return, his lips will remain sealed on a likely undemocratic election.

thediplomat.com

Etihad Airways shuts Dhaka service 29 Oct

Industry insiders have attributed the suspension to commercial reasons

www.tbsnews.net

 

[Isa Khan]

Highlights:

• Airbus plans to upskill Bangladeshis in aviation and aerospace
• Negotiations underway for 10 A350 aircraft sale to Biman
• Foreign carriers dominate 80% of Bangladesh's aviation market
• Bangladesh's large population and GDP make it an attractive market
• Bangladesh would need 55 wide-body aircraft by 2042
• Biman's current fleet consists of 21 aircraft

---

European aviation giant Airbus has aligned its plans to help Bangladesh achieve its ambition of becoming an aviation hub by creating a favourable ecosystem, said Morad Bourouffala, chief representative of the company in Bangladesh.

During a recent visit by Bangladeshi journalists to Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, he said, "We are no longer seeing Bangladesh as a transactional partner, meaning that we sell something and leave. We truly want Bangladesh to become an aviation superpower.

"I believe Bangladesh has the potential to become an aviation hub."

Bourouffala said, "Our strong bilateral relationship has led to this, where all of our plans are aligned to help Bangladesh achieve its ambition of becoming an aviation hub."

Airbus marketing vice president Antonio da Costa and wide-body market development manager Juan Camilo Rodríguez also joined Bourouffala in briefing the Bangladeshi journalists in Toulouse, Europe's aerospace capital.

The European aircraft manufacturer is currently negotiating a sale of 10 wide-body A350 aircraft, including two freight planes, to Biman Bangladesh Airlines. The state-run Biman now has a 21-aircraft fleet, mostly dominated by Airbus's main competitor Boeing planes from the United States.

Asked what it means for the public to have an aviation hub, Airbus's marketing vice president, Antonio da Costa, said, "It really means being able to take advantage of existing passenger flows, both Bangladeshi nationals and foreigners visiting Bangladesh.

"Bangladesh is well-located in Asia, and this can be used as an opportunity to act as a gateway for people travelling between point A and point B, both within Asia and globally, to go through Bangladesh. It is important to establish the necessary infrastructure to make this possible."

Foreign carriers currently capture around 80% of the aviation market in Bangladesh, according to industry insiders.

"With its new-generation wide-body A350 aircraft, which offer 25% lower fuel burn and a superior passenger experience, Airbus can equip Bangladeshi airlines with the right tools to compete with foreign airlines," said da Costa.

The Airbus executives highlighted the tremendous potential of Bangladesh, citing its large population of 175 million and higher GDP per capita than India.

Morad Bourouffala said, "We want to capitalise on the human and skills force that is present in Bangladesh. Our project will upskill Bangladeshis in the aviation and aerospace industry."

Bourouffala said Airbus will help Bangladesh develop human capital for the aviation sector. "When we sell aircraft to customers worldwide, we always provide a comprehensive training package for their personnel. It is clearly our ambition to help Bangladesh develop its human skills capacity."

Despite recognising that Bangladesh is a "shining economy", the officials believe that the aviation market here is not yet fully realised.

"We are investing time and resources in Bangladesh because we believe in [the country's] Vision 2041 and want to be a part of it," said Bourouffala.

He added that Airbus is already working with the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University to develop a talented workforce.

'Bangladesh needs more wide-body aircraft'

The Airbus Global Market Forecast study predicts that Bangladesh will need 105 narrowbody and 55 widebody aircraft by 2042 to meet the growing demand of air travellers.

Juan Camilo Rodríguez, widebody market development manager at Airbus, presented a comparative study of the aviation potential of different countries, taking into account their GDP size and number of air travellers.

He claimed that air travel from, to, and within Bangladesh will double by 2031, growing at 6% internationally, 8% domestically, and 6.4% in total.

The state-run Biman and private airlines currently have a combined fleet of 36 aircraft, including 10 wide-bodied ones. Bangladesh's GDP is worth $416 billion, and 7.5 million Bangladeshi expatriates live around the world.

In contrast, the Airbus study showed that Vietnam has a fleet of 187 aircraft, including 35 wide-bodied ones, with a GDP of $366 billion and 3.4 million expatriates. The Philippines operates 172 aircraft, including 29 wide-bodied ones, with a GDP of $394 billion and 6.1 million expatriates.

Airbus to escort Bangladesh towards aviation hub dream

The European aircraft manufacturer is currently negotiating a sale of 10 wide-body A350 aircraft, including two freight planes, to Biman Bangladesh Airlines

www.tbsnews.net

 

[yf120]

Highlights:

• Airbus plans to upskill Bangladeshis in aviation and aerospace
• Negotiations underway for 10 A350 aircraft sale to Biman
• Foreign carriers dominate 80% of Bangladesh's aviation market
• Bangladesh's large population and GDP make it an attractive market
• Bangladesh would need 55 wide-body aircraft by 2042
• Biman's current fleet consists of 21 aircraft

---

European aviation giant Airbus has aligned its plans to help Bangladesh achieve its ambition of becoming an aviation hub by creating a favourable ecosystem, said Morad Bourouffala, chief representative of the company in Bangladesh.

During a recent visit by Bangladeshi journalists to Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, he said, "We are no longer seeing Bangladesh as a transactional partner, meaning that we sell something and leave. We truly want Bangladesh to become an aviation superpower.

"I believe Bangladesh has the potential to become an aviation hub."

Bourouffala said, "Our strong bilateral relationship has led to this, where all of our plans are aligned to help Bangladesh achieve its ambition of becoming an aviation hub."

Airbus marketing vice president Antonio da Costa and wide-body market development manager Juan Camilo Rodríguez also joined Bourouffala in briefing the Bangladeshi journalists in Toulouse, Europe's aerospace capital.

The European aircraft manufacturer is currently negotiating a sale of 10 wide-body A350 aircraft, including two freight planes, to Biman Bangladesh Airlines. The state-run Biman now has a 21-aircraft fleet, mostly dominated by Airbus's main competitor Boeing planes from the United States.

Asked what it means for the public to have an aviation hub, Airbus's marketing vice president, Antonio da Costa, said, "It really means being able to take advantage of existing passenger flows, both Bangladeshi nationals and foreigners visiting Bangladesh.

"Bangladesh is well-located in Asia, and this can be used as an opportunity to act as a gateway for people travelling between point A and point B, both within Asia and globally, to go through Bangladesh. It is important to establish the necessary infrastructure to make this possible."

Foreign carriers currently capture around 80% of the aviation market in Bangladesh, according to industry insiders.

"With its new-generation wide-body A350 aircraft, which offer 25% lower fuel burn and a superior passenger experience, Airbus can equip Bangladeshi airlines with the right tools to compete with foreign airlines," said da Costa.

The Airbus executives highlighted the tremendous potential of Bangladesh, citing its large population of 175 million and higher GDP per capita than India.

Morad Bourouffala said, "We want to capitalise on the human and skills force that is present in Bangladesh. Our project will upskill Bangladeshis in the aviation and aerospace industry."

Bourouffala said Airbus will help Bangladesh develop human capital for the aviation sector. "When we sell aircraft to customers worldwide, we always provide a comprehensive training package for their personnel. It is clearly our ambition to help Bangladesh develop its human skills capacity."

Despite recognising that Bangladesh is a "shining economy", the officials believe that the aviation market here is not yet fully realised.

"We are investing time and resources in Bangladesh because we believe in [the country's] Vision 2041 and want to be a part of it," said Bourouffala.

He added that Airbus is already working with the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University to develop a talented workforce.

'Bangladesh needs more wide-body aircraft'

The Airbus Global Market Forecast study predicts that Bangladesh will need 105 narrowbody and 55 widebody aircraft by 2042 to meet the growing demand of air travellers.

Juan Camilo Rodríguez, widebody market development manager at Airbus, presented a comparative study of the aviation potential of different countries, taking into account their GDP size and number of air travellers.

He claimed that air travel from, to, and within Bangladesh will double by 2031, growing at 6% internationally, 8% domestically, and 6.4% in total.

The state-run Biman and private airlines currently have a combined fleet of 36 aircraft, including 10 wide-bodied ones. Bangladesh's GDP is worth $416 billion, and 7.5 million Bangladeshi expatriates live around the world.

In contrast, the Airbus study showed that Vietnam has a fleet of 187 aircraft, including 35 wide-bodied ones, with a GDP of $366 billion and 3.4 million expatriates. The Philippines operates 172 aircraft, including 29 wide-bodied ones, with a GDP of $394 billion and 6.1 million expatriates.

Airbus to escort Bangladesh towards aviation hub dream

The European aircraft manufacturer is currently negotiating a sale of 10 wide-body A350 aircraft, including two freight planes, to Biman Bangladesh Airlines

www.tbsnews.net

This definitely feels like a forced justification for the nightmare that is coming in the not-so-distant future, and the writer checks out nicely.

Not to mention the hilarious comparison of BD with Vietnam and the Philippines. He surely lives in a bubble

 

[Isa Khan]

The US-based aviation giant Boeing demanded a fair evaluation of its proposal made to Biman Bangladesh Airlines about selling four 787 Dreamliner passenger planes and two 777 freighters.

"We have had a proposal on the table for years now," said Ryan Weir, vice president of India and South Asia Commercial Sales and Marketing at Boeing, when speaking with journalists at a city hotel yesterday. "We understand that Airbus's proposal to sell two A350s was evaluated."

"We are hoping our proposal will be evaluated before a final decision is taken," he said, while two other Boeing representatives were present at the meeting with journalists and also answered questions.

The other two Boeing representatives are Ashwin Naidu, Managing Director-Commercial Marketing, Eurasia, and Indian Subcontinent, and Kaanthi Bhuvanagiri, BCA Sales Director.

Boeing representatives also estimated that Biman will have to pay an additional complexity cost of nearly $150 million over the next 20 years if it mixes its fleet with Airbus planes. They suggested that the airline could purchase another plane with these complexity costs.

The team claimed that Boeing's product will be as affordable as, or less expensive than, those of their competitors.

Here is the question-answer session with Boeing and journalists:

What is the progress on the Boeing proposal?

We met key leaders in the Prime Minister's Office and in the Ministry of Aviation, along with key leaders at the airline. They have all assured us that our proposal will be evaluated.

We are hoping our proposal will be evaluated before a final decision is taken.

We made proposals for four wide-bodied passenger planes and two freighters. This goes back to addressing the vision of the prime minister, who is very keen on building the cargo market with Biman.

There is a big export market out of Biman, and a lot of other airlines are taking that cargo market today.

So in order to address the vision of the prime minister, we have also submitted a proposal for two freighters.

We have yet to hear of a timeframe, but our request is out there, and they have assured us of that evaluation.

We understand that the Airbus proposal was evaluated. Several people, including the minister and people at the airline, said that the Boeing 787 would be evaluated. We are always after a fair evaluation of our products.

There is a safety concern about the 787 Dreamliner worldwide. So should Biman consider procuring 787?

I believe there was a press release by the minister kind of expressing concerns and directing Biman to work with Boeing. We formally responded to that letter to the minister with full documentation in terms of what we have done.

The issue started in 2021; it was a self-reported issue. We found something in our production process that we wanted to make sure was okay or addressed.

And then we spent the next 18 to 24 months working with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and going through rigorous engineering evaluations to ensure that the build of our aeroplane was safe.

We then took steps to rework all the aeroplanes that we had built. We basically created inventory for that period of time. We slowed production but continued to build aeroplanes.

And then we went and reworked those aeroplanes and were in the process of delivering those aeroplanes to the customers.

And then I know that recently there has been a lot of media coverage of the whistle-blowers, and we always respect a whistle-blower in this case. We believe that those claims are inaccurate.

Those claims are exactly what we were working on for 18 to 24 months with the FAA to make sure that we were building to the specs that we had designed for the airplane. The 787 has been through rigorous, rigorous tasks.

A lot of that frustration stems from not necessarily safety concerns, but a lot of the frustration right now is because they are not getting aeroplanes fast enough.

Because the market is demanding airplanes. People want to travel both in the United States and around the world. And they need to have aeroplanes to replace them.

And those aeroplanes are late for a variety of reasons, largely outside of Boeing control.

The industry has basically gone from almost zero production to 30 to 40 aeroplanes a month coming out of Covid and in that time, the industry, Boeing included, lost a lot of experienced people who left as a result of Covid and didn't come back.

And so to replace those people and increase production rate, it put a huge strain on the whole production system, supply chain.

Why is Boeing better than Airbus?

First and foremost, bringing on a new fleet type of aeroplane, whether it be the A350 or any other wide-body aeroplane, was going to cost the airline about $150 million, or a little less.

That doesn't change significantly based on the number of aeroplanes you bring on.

That is essentially enough money to pay for one more aeroplane, reinvest in the airline, and do other things that Boeing would argue would be more productive.

But on top of that, we believe that on the critical missions that Biman is evaluating and would evaluate, the 787 would produce about $5 million more profit per plane annually operating those routes.

We have a detailed study behind it, and it is predicated on, you know, 6% less fuel per trip operating the 787, 30% less maintenance costs because of the design and construction of the 787.

And we can offer competitive delivery timing with a delivery position of 787.

Boeing products are going to be more or less expensive than those of our competitors.

So anytime you have a set infrastructure and now you suddenly bring on a new aircraft type, first you start with all your tooling, your maintenance infrastructure, and all your investments that you have to make in spare aeroplanes, spare parts, tools, and spare engines.

We have a detailed study that we have shared with the airline, and it has been demonstrated that the extra complexity will cost $150 million over 20 years.

But that is a cost that includes three or four major line items and expenses, training, tooling, and maintenance infrastructure, engine parts, and engine spares.

Moreover, the airline is going to take all those pilots who are operating the 787 and send them on ground training, classroom training, and simulator training, all to fly a new aircraft type.

So all those costs add up very substantially, and there is a big jump in expenses upfront, and recurring expenses each year that continue to add to the expense line.

Boeing demands fair evaluation of its proposals for selling 6 planes to Biman

“We have had a proposal on the table for years now,” said Ryan Weir, vice president of India and South Asia Commercial Sales and Marketing at Boeing

www.tbsnews.net

 

[PutinBro]

Airbus offer not viable financially, Biman evaluation finds

The total investment for two aircrafts will exceed $1 billion, equivalent to Tk12,000 crore at the current exchange rate​

The Airbus A350-1000 seen in the aerial display during the media preview of the Singapore Airshow in Singapore, 13 February 2022. Photo: Reuters


European aviation giant Airbus' offer to sell two A350-900 passenger aircraft is not financially viable for Biman Bangladesh Airlines as its net cash flow is found negative for the next 25 years compared to the cost of capital investment, according to a report.


The report, prepared by the techno-financial evaluation committee of the national flag carrier, projects that Biman will have to pay a total of $900 million for the two aircraft by June 2027, which is 18.6% higher than the base price of $763.75 million offered by Airbus based on 1 January 2023.

The price escalation is significant due to a high-interest cost at a 5.50% SOFR rate, compounded by the current cost of capital and an escalation factor based on a formula provided by Airbus.

Besides, Biman will need to pay a $10 million non-refundable commitment fee upon signing the memorandum of understanding. Also, an initial investment of $126 million is projected for spare engines, parts, tools, equipment provisioning, and crew training due to the different equipment.

Therefore, the total investment for the two aircraft will exceed $1 billion, equivalent to Tk12,000 crore at the current exchange rate.

This substantial capital investment will generate negative cash flow over the next 25 years based on Biman's operating plan, as revenue generation is low due to poor yield, the evaluation committee finds.

"As the project is not financially viable, Biman may not consider purchasing the two new A350-900 passenger aircraft from Airbus," according to the committee's report obtained by The Business Standard.

However, an alternate source of funding with less than 1% interest and changes to routes, frequency, and fleet size may make the project viable, said the report.

Though the A350 is popular among renowned airlines worldwide, Biman will face challenges in crew management, engineering training, logistics, pre-flight inspections, and provisioning spares and tools when introducing the aircraft into its fleet, according to the evaluation report.

The report further says, "The management needs to consider very carefully before finalising its decision."

To evaluate the Airbus proposal, Biman management formed the techno-financial committee through an office order on 31 July last year, comprising internal and external officials.

The committee submitted a comprehensive evaluation report on 30 January 2024, based on Biman's ground rules and considering commercial, technical, operational, maintenance, and financial aspects.

Meanwhile, Biman has also an offer from Boeing in hand, which has yet to be evaluated.
In a recent visit to Dhaka, Ryan Weir, vice president of India and South Asia Commercial Sales and Marketing at Boeing, demanded fair evaluation of their proposal.
He said Boeing had proposed selling four 787 Dreamliner passenger planes and two 777 freighters a year ago, but Biman has yet to begin evaluating their products.

He urged for a fair evaluation before making a final decision on procuring new aircraft.

The two aircraft

Airbus has proposed two A350-900 aircraft with Rolls-Royce engines to be delivered between the second half of 2027 and the first half of 2028. Each plane will have 346 seats.

Airbus quoted the aircraft price based on the 1 January 2023 rate, despite delivery scheduled for January and July 2028. The price will increase on the delivery date based on a set formula provided by Airbus.

Hence, Biman estimated the increased price of the aircraft at delivery by considering a 3.50% annual escalation factor.
Biman currently operates 21 aircraft, with 16 made by Boeing, US, and five Dash 8-400 Turbo-prop aircraft made by De Havilland, Canada.

Biman's "Network and Fleet Plan for FY2024-25 to FY2033-34" indicates a need for 47 aircraft by FY35, including one with over 400 seats, eight with 300 seats, seven with 270 seats, ten with 170 seats, and six with 70 seats.

As per the projection, Biman would require a 400+ seat capacity aircraft by FY29 and two 300+ seat capacity wide-body aircraft by FY26.

Challenges in crew

The report also mentioned several challenges of procuring the two Airbus aircraft.
It said Biman faces a significant crew shortage across its fleet. Introducing the A350 requires a separate team of trained pilots.

The existing crew must undergo training to operate Airbus planes.
Switching crews between Airbus and Boeing is complex. With current crew shortages, deploying them on A350s poses challenges. Recruiting new crew will not quickly resolve the issue, as "experience" is crucial in aviation. Acquiring the necessary experience for advanced planes takes time, said the report.

The evaluation committee also noted that operating the A350 on existing routes would require more than double the cockpit crew compared to the B787. This is because Biman's B787 flights have lower crew requirements due to established flight patterns, crew rotations, and rest periods.

Currently, there is a shortage of available A350 cockpit crew in the international market. Biman may need to recruit cadet pilots locally and provide them with subsequent training to address this shortage.

Challenges in maintenance

Currently, Biman operates Boeing 787-8/9, 777-300ER, 737-800, and DHC-400 aircraft. Introducing the A350-900 will add a new aircraft type to its fleet, leading to a mixed wide-body fleet.

This brings several challenges in airworthiness management, maintenance, certification, training, logistics, and pre-flight inspection, said the report.
These challenges can affect various aspects of airworthiness management, line and base maintenance, certification, training, logistics, and pre-flight inspection, etc.

The dissimilar equipment compared to Biman's existing fleet will require spare engines, parts, and tools. Based on discussions with the Airbus team, approximately $61.77 million will be needed for spare parts, tools,
equipment, and spare engine.

Challenges in engineering section

A significant number of Biman's engineering and maintenance personnel will be retiring within the next five years, creating challenges in maintaining the current fleet, according to the report.

It typically takes seven to eight years to train skilled personnel eligible to certify aircraft, so immediate and large-scale recruitment is necessary, it said.
Meanwhile, Airbus offers 1,000 trainee-days support for engineers for the two aircraft, but 2,000 trainee-days are needed to train engineering and maintenance personnel fully.

Besides, Airbus' proposal does not include training for software development, modification, configuration control, electronic delivery, or safety and security programs for the Performance Engineers Program (PEP). Airbus could not confirm whether the PEP is part of the offer.

Also, the Engine Maintenance (Total Care) Program is exclusively offered by Rolls Royce, while the Component Repair/Overhaul Service programme is available from Airbus and other vendors on a Flight Hour payment basis.

Airbus offer not viable financially, Biman evaluation finds

The total investment for two aircrafts will exceed $1 billion, equivalent to Tk12,000 crore at the current exchange rate

www.tbsnews.net

 

[Isa Khan]

If PM still goes forward with this (which she might) it'll be totally a political move against US. But if BD really wants distance itself from US, sooner or later we'll have to pay this cost but now is really not the right time.

 

[PutinBro]

If PM still goes forward with this (which she might) it'll be totally a political move against US. But if BD really wants distance itself from US, sooner or later we'll have to pay this cost but now is really not the right time.

Cargo aircraft from airbus is very likely while purchase of passenger jets may happen from boeing.

 

[PutinBro]

Considering Airbus’s offer of passenger planes seriously, Biman’s outgoing MD says​

Biman Bangladesh Airlines could be expanding its fleet with new aircraft from Airbus. Outgoing Managing Director and CEO of the national flag carrier, Shafiul Azim, made the indication during a views exchange meeting with the Aviation and Tourism Journalists’ Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB) today (May 29, 2024).

The meeting, held in Dhaka, saw the participation of ATJFB members led by their president, Tanzim Anwar. Addressing the forum, the outgoing Biman MD said that Airbus had proposed two offers to Biman for aircraft procurement.

“Initially, Airbus offered us two cargo planes, but we decided we do not need them at the moment. Instead, we expressed our interest in expanding our passenger fleet. Subsequently, Airbus proposed four passenger aircraft, which was a better offer. This proposal has been evaluated by the committee and forwarded to the board for approval,” Azim explained.

He emphasized the importance of diversifying their fleet, noting that currently, 16 out of 21 large aircraft in Biman’s fleet are from Boeing. “We are considering Airbus’s offers seriously. Diversifying our aircraft will not only mitigate risk but also appeal to passengers who appreciate newer models,” Azim said.

Airbus leading in Bangladesh’s aircraft purchase consideration over Boeing?

Regarding Boeing, Azim mentioned that they also received an offer from Boeing, which will be evaluated. “We have a longstanding relationship with Boeing, not just in terms of aircraft procurement but also their technical support and credit facilities. We are working well together,” he added.

Azim highlighted Biman’s advantageous position due to the competitive proposals from both Airbus and Boeing. He assured that regardless of the manufacturer chosen, Biman stands to benefit as a customer.
When asked about the financial status of Biman, Azim confidently stated that Biman has been “profitable for eight out of the last ten years.”

The two years of losses included one year heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and another due to significant payment obligations. “Despite challenges such as dollar shortages and ongoing global conflicts, we have remained profitable,” the Biman MD said.

He further defended Biman’s financial health, pointing out that regular audits have confirmed their profitability. “We continue to hire, pay salaries and bonuses, including profit bonuses. If Biman wasn’t profitable, where would this money come from? To those who doubt our success, I pray they find guidance,” he remarked.

PM’s likely Visit to Paris: France hopes significant progress on purchase from Airbus, satellite
Reflecting on his tenure, Azim expressed satisfaction with his management approach. “During my time, I never hesitated to reward deserving employees or to impose necessary disciplinary actions. I have used my authority to the fullest and believe that with effort, Biman can compete with the world’s leading airlines,” he stated.

Addressing the frequent changes in Biman’s leadership, Azim underscored the need for a stable management system. “Our human and technical resources are competent. If systems and structures are in place, the organization won’t rely on any single individual. I have focused on establishing these systems,” he noted.

He also recommended retaining experienced personnel in technical fields, regardless of age, as experience grows with time. “Biman should not function with the mindset of a government office; it is a commercial entity and should be managed commercially,” Azim advised.

He expressed a slight regret, wishing that four new aircraft could have been added to Biman’s fleet during his tenure().

Considering Airbus’s offer of passenger planes seriously, Biman’s outgoing MD says

Biman Bangladesh Airlines could be expanding its fleet with new aircraft from Airbus. Outgoing Managing Director and CEO of the national flag carrier, Shafiul Azim, made the indication during a views exchange meeting with the Aviation and Tourism Journalists’ Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB) today...

unb.com.bd

 

[PutinBro]

Plane Purchase: ‘Airbus’s second proposal far better than the first’​

Outgoing Biman MD tells Star in an interview


Biman's outgoing Managing Director and CEO Shafiul Azim said the Airbus's second proposal to sell its aircraft to the national flag carrier was far better than the first one.

Read More.

Biman U-turns to buy Airbus planes​

In an interview with The Daily Star in his office on Tuesday, he said, "That's why the technical and financial evaluation committee had given the go-ahead to the second proposal to purchase aircraft from the European plane manufacturer.

"In the first of the two proposals, Airbus proposed selling two freighters along with a passenger aircraft," he said, adding, "We don't think we need cargo planes now as it wouldn't be economically viable.

"In the second one, it proposed selling four passenger aircraft. This was far better than the first."

About reconstituting the evaluation committee after it had said buying Airbus aircraft would not be profitable, he said, "There was no change made in the committee. The previous chair went into retirement. So, the next most senior person was made the new chair."

Azim said, "Boeing also sent us a proposal and we'll evaluate that too. We have a long-standing good relationship with Boeing.

"It is our very trusted and reliable partner. Our relationship is not only based of buying or selling planes, the company's technical support and credit facilities are also good. Overall, we work well together."

He further said, "However, whichever aircraft we buy, we're in a preferable position as a buyer with competitive offers from both companies."

Azim claimed the technical and financial evaluation committee worked very transparently and that even the slightest compromise was not made to ensure Biman's interests.

"The highest authority of the country instructed us to choose the proposal that will be better for Biman, and we followed that instruction ... The committee didn't face any pressure or interference while doing its work."
He further said the committee green-signaled the second proposal, which was later sent to the Biman board. The board then sent it to the negotiation committee with instructions to proceed.

"We're now prioritising the Airbus offer. All major aircraft in our fleet are from Boeing, so passengers will like something different.
"Any company can face bad times at any time. We're negotiating with Airbus as part of a long-term plan to ensure we're not in any kind of danger, that our strength doesn't wane in the future, and that we're not exposed to any risk."

About "risks", he spoke about some recent incidents involving the Boeing-737 max aircraft.
"If we can make an excellent combination of Boeing and Airbus, Biman will reach a new height in Asia.

"Now that we're growing the fleet and if there is no diversity, we're just single-sourced. Then there's no option for passengers to choose. They often have a choice as to which company's aircraft they will fly."

Azim said the decision to buy Airbus aircraft has already been made and the proposals are being reviewed. "The aircraft will be bought following proper procedures."

Meanwhile, at a views-exchange meeting with the Aviation and Tourism Journalists Forum of Bangladesh at Biman's headquarters in the capital's Kurmitola yesterday, Azim said Biman has been a profitable venture for the last eight to 10 years.

"We had two years of losses, one due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the other due to huge repayments."

About a syndicate selling Biman tickets, he said, "If anyone can prove this, the responsible officials and staffers of Biman will face proper punishment."

Plane Purchase: ‘Airbus’s second proposal far better than the first’

Biman’s outgoing Managing Director and CEO Shafiul Azim said the Airbus’s second proposal to sell its aircraft to the national flag carrier was far better than the first one.

www.thedailystar.net

 

[Bluetooth]

@PutinBro boeing is not safe for passangers.

 

[PutinBro]

@PutinBro boeing is not safe for passangers.

Boeing is safe for biman.