3rd Dash-8 aircraft: ‘Shwetbalaka’ to join Biman fleet

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is going to add another new Dash8-400 aircraft, named “Shwetbalaka,” to its fleet. 

The Dash-8 model aircraft, manufactured by Canadian aircraft manufacturer De Havilland, is expected to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Friday afternoon, a press release said.

The aircraft will be greeted with a water cannon salute upon landing in Bangladesh after departing De Havilland Bombardier Aerospace.

The first two of the three Dash-8 aircraft, purchased on a Government-to-Government basis from Canada, were added to the fleet on December 27, 2020, and February 24, 2021, respectively.

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina named the third aircraft, as well as the other two. 

The aircraft has 74 seats with modern facilities for passengers. The addition of the aircraft to the fleet will increase the flight frequency on domestic and short-haul routes. 

The addition of Shwetbalaka will take the total number of aircraft on the Biman fleet to 21.

Currently, Biman’s fleet includes four Boeing 777-300 ER, four Boeing 787-8, two Boeing 787-9, six Boeing 737, and four Dash 8-400 aircraft.