National flag career Biman Bangladesh Airlines has leased two Boeing aircraft to carry this year’s hajj pilgrims.
The airline has confirmed in a media release that it has leased a Boeing 747 and a Boeing 767 to augment capacity to meet hajj rush.
Khan Musharraf, the airline’s GM, Communications, told journalists, “The B747 is coming on wet lease. It will be returned after the hajj season. But the B767 will be retained for regular operations after hajj.”
Biman begins its hajj flights from September 7. The last return flight will take off on November 18.
According to an agreement signed by Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, Biman will carry half the pilgrims, while the rest would be flown by the Saudi Arabian Airlines and Nas Airways.
Ministry of Religious Affairs data shows 88,911 pilgrims will perform hajj this year. Biman will carry 44,500 of them.
The national carrier will operate 92 dedicated flights and 22 regular scheduled flights for the pilgrims’ benefit, the release said.
As in last year, pilgrims will also be flown from Chittagong and Sylhet, two other major cities of Bangladesh. – bdnews24.com
