- Bangladesh’s flag carrier welcomed to family of Q400 aircraft operators as it executes lease agreement with Smart Aviation
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft today welcomed Biman Bangladesh Airlines (“Biman”), the national flag carrier airline of Bangladesh to the family of Q400 aircraft operators following confirmation that it has signed an agreement with Smart Aviation Company of Cairo, Egypt for the lease of two Q400 NextGen turboprops.
“With Bangladesh's aviation sector experiencing an eight per cent annual growth rate, the Q400 NextGen aircraft will provide reliable, comfortable and affordable air connectivity to a number of destinations in Bangladesh,” said Kyle Haywood, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Biman. “This agreement represents another important step in our growth journey and fleet modernization program, and we are confident that the Q400 NextGen turboprop will be a key asset in helping Biman offer a high level of service to Bangladesh nationals and visitors alike.”
“We congratulate both Biman and Smart Aviation for finalizing this milestone agreement that will see the Q400 aircraft enter yet another strategic market and we are very pleased to welcome Biman, Bangladesh’s national carrier, as the latest Q400 NextGen turboprop carrier that will utilize the aircraft to develop its domestic and regional network,” said Andy Solem, Vice President, Sales, China and Asia-Pacific, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “With its superb economics and operational flexibility, the Q400 NextGen turboprop will allow Biman to expand its network, connecting more passengers to key cities within Bangladesh and neighboring countries.”
While Biman’s main hub is located at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, it also operates flights from its secondary hubs at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong and Osmani International Airport in Sylhet. The airline provides international passenger and cargo services to Asia and Europe, as well as major domestic routes inside Bangladesh. Biman has air service agreements with 42 countries and currently flies to 16 different countries.
About Q400 NextGen aircraft
Optimized for short-haul operations and capable of seating up to 86 passengers, the Q400 NextGen aircraft is a large, fast, quiet and fuel-efficient turboprop. It provides the perfect balance of passenger comfort and operating economics with a reduced environmental footprint.
The Q400 NextGen aircraft is the fastest new-technology turboprop, providing both jet speed and turboprop fuel efficiency. The aircraft’s economics and operational flexibility allow airlines to profitably deploy it in a variety of ways to serve typical short-haul turboprop routes, as well as medium-haul jet markets.
Q400 NextGen aircraft are available with an optional dual-class interior for enhanced passenger comfort; an optional extra-capacity configuration with up to 86 seats for high-density markets; and a cargo-passenger combi configuration.
As of today, Bombardier has booked firm orders for a total of 541 Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft. Worldwide, Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft have transported more than 355 million passengers and have logged over 5.7 million flight hours and more than 6.1 million take-offs and landings. The Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft program includes some 50 owners and operators in over 40 countries on six continents. Long recognized as a high-value asset by operators, the Q400 aircraft is now also attracting growing interest from the leasing community.
About Bombardier
Bombardier is the world’s leading manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.
Bombardier is headquartered in Montréal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indices. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, we posted revenues of $20.1 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.
Notes to Editors
Additional information on the Q400 NextGen aircraft is available at www.q400nextgen.com.
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For Information
Marianella de la Barrera
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft
+1-416-375-3030