Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated Sonar Tari and Achin Pakhi, two brand new Dreamliners of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national flag carrier.
After the inauguration at a function at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on Saturday (Dec 28) morning, she visited the cockpit and other areas of the two the state-of-the-art aircraft.
The Boeing 787-9 planes will start flying to Manchester and London on Jan 5. Biman sources said all the tickets of the inaugural Manchester flight have already been sold.
The prime minister also inaugurated the construction work of the HSIA third terminal, which aims to serve increasing number of passengers.
Biman signed a US$2.1 billion agreement with Boeing in 2008 to purchase 10 new aircraft. Boeing has delivered all the aircraft -- four 777-300ERs, two 737-800s and four Dreamliners -- to Biman.
The prime minister named the 10 aircraft. The four Dreamliners have been named Akashbani, Hansabalaka, Gangchil, and Rajhangsa, the 777-300ERs Palki, Arun Alo, Akash Pradip and Ranga Provat, and the 737-800s Meghdut and Mayurpankhi.