March 29, 2024, 2:55 am


Rubel Rana

Published:
2018-08-02 18:24:54 BdST

Biman to buy 3 Bombardier aircraft


FT ONLINE

State-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines yesterday signed a deal with Canadian Commercial Corporation to buy three 74-seater new Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft.

The aircraft will be delivered in March, May and June in 2020 under the government-to-government contract, said the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka in a statement.

AM Mosaddique Ahmed, chief executive officer of Biman Bangladesh and Carl Marcotte, acting president of CCC, signed the deal at a programme at the conference room of the civil aviation and tourism ministry in Dhaka.

“We are extremely pleased to be supporting Bombardier in selling their Q400 aircraft to Biman Bangladesh Airlines,” said Ian McLeod, vice-president for business development and sales of CCC, in the statement.

He said Canada and Bangladesh enjoy strong bilateral ties through trade and investment, development cooperation, and people-to-people links.

“Increasing the capacity of the national carrier supports these efforts and the economic growth of the country, improving the lives of Bangladeshis by increasing their access to domestic and international destinations.”

François Cognard, vice-president for sales for the Asia Pacific region of Bombardier Aerospace, said the Q400's mix of turboprop economics and jet like performance was the best match for Biman's mix of short and long-range routes, he said. 

Benoit Préfontaine, high commissioner of Canada to Bangladesh, said this important transaction consolidates Canada's position as a major aerospace sector partner of Bangladesh.

“It further expands the fleet of Canadian aircraft and helicopters being flown in Bangladesh skies by commercial airlines, private owners and government entities.”

Canada's commercial relationship with Bangladesh has grown dramatically over the last 10 years. The value of bilateral merchandise trade has more than doubled from just under Can$950 million in 2008 to nearly Can$2.4 billion in 2017, according to the statement.

Bangladesh is the second largest destination for Canadian merchandise exports to South Asia, after India. CCC, a contracting agency, focuses on promoting and facilitating international trade on behalf of industries in Canada.

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