Biman to float fresh tender

Biman at its board meeting Sunday decided to buy the Dash 8-Q400 planes following recommendation of a fleet planning sub-committee.

Presided over by State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin, the meeting found lucrative the proposal of Bombardier Aerospace, manufacturer of Dash planes, on trade-in of old aircraft.

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But as the tender was floated over a year back, the board decided to call fresh tender.

Earlier in November, Biman revived the tender, which was postponed last year, for purchasing a fleet of three ATR or Dash planes.

In the tenders, European aircraft consortium Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) quoted $16.9 million for each 68-seater ATR 72-500 and Canadian Bombardier $26.66 million for each 74-seater Dash 8-Q400.

Sources alleged that the Biman management has decided to purchase the Dash, which is $10 million more costly than the ATR, following an underhand commission deal with its representative.