About this app
Biman Bangladesh Airlines commonly known as Biman, is the national flag carrier of Bangladesh. The headquarters of the airline, Balaka Bhaban, is located in Kurmitola, in the northern part of Dhaka.
It all started some 42 years ago, when the free people of our newly liberated country had, perhaps, looked up into the skies and imagined a dreamboat of their own which could fly them to faraway places. The hopes and aspirations of the peoples of Bangladesh gave birth to Biman—the wings that would carry them beyond the sunset. The dream came true on January 4 1972. The beautiful airline was born with a unique birthmark—the only one born without any aircraft or ancillary.
The journey began with a DC-3 aircraft-an air force plane gifted to the new airline by the government. But the joy was short-lived. Before any service could begin, the aircraft crashed while on a training, flight. Biman was finally air borne on March 7, 1972 with flights to Chittagong and Sylhet and on March 9 to Jessore. Thus the domestic operation of Biman began. Since then there has been no looking back.
Indeed, it was the international operation of the airline which started first. On 4th March, three days before start of domestic operation, the first flight of Biman's international operation landed in Dhaka from London with 179 passengers on board. The aircraft used in the flight was a chartered one from British Caledonian.
It was not an auspicious beginning for a new airline of a war devastated country like Bangladesh. In the list of priorities for the resource hungry country, the position of an airline had to be far down the line. The highlights of Biman’s 42 years will actually not depict the agonies that the airline had to undergo, but will give an idea how the airline is surviving by charting a not so glamorous course like many of the competition.
Absence of aircraft, ancillary facilities and a massive shortage of funds had a crippling effect on the newborn airline of a newborn country ravaged by war. Its struggle for survival and growth began right from the word 'go'. The many uncertainties along the way sometimes created an atmosphere casting an abject frustration. However, Biman fought hard to keep its nose up and overcome many adverse situations.
2007 - Bangladesh Biman Corporation turned into a Public Limited Company. E-ticket and BSP were introduced.
2008 - The airline went into an agreement with Boeing Aircraft Company for acquisition of 10 new generation aircraft of 4 Boeing 777-300ER, 2 Boeing 737-800 and 4 Boeing 787 the biggest ever deal in the history of Biman as well as the country. One Boeing 747-300 was taken on lease on ACMI basis for 12 months. Two more 737-800s joined the fleet in November.
2010 - One lease-hold Boeing 777-200ER joined the fleet. Two Boeing 737-800s were taken on lease for 5 years. The aircraft will remain in the fleet till January 2015. The airline took delivery of one Airbus 310-300 on lease for 3 years.
2011
The first 02 of 04 Boeing 777-300ERs joined the fleet in October and November, 2011 and thus replacing the ageing DC10-30s, the long time backbone of Biman fleet.
2014 - The 3rd Boeing 777-300ER joined the fleet on 5th February and the 4th is joining in the second week of February. Now the airline has a new backbone comprising of Boeing 777-300ERs, the new work horses of Biman, named as the Palki, the Arun Aalo, the Aakash Pradeep and the Raanga Pravat.
During the four decades of Biman’s existence, many types of commercial airliners have adorned the fleet- ranging from the early leader, the venerable DC 3 to the modern ‘People’s Preference’, the Boeing 777. As stated earlier, the airline had placed a firm order for the fifth generation Dreamliner to complement its fleet. Fuel efficient Dreamliner is a new wonder of the skies.
Right now Biman has 10 new aircrafts including four Dreamliner 787.
