Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG, Dhaka) will launch twice weekly Dhaka to New York JFK via Birmingham, GB flights beginning Spring 2014, CEO Kevin Steele has revealed. Speaking to RoutesOnline, Mr Steele said Birmingham's large Bangladeshi community coupled with improved airport infrastructure rendered the route possible with Los Angeles International also due to launch within the year. “We will also return to Manchester, our third destination in the UK and are looking at points in China like Guangzhou and Kunming Changshui in the future. Within a year we will also introduce flights to Los Angeles,” he added. In terms of the airline's fleeting plans, Mr Steele said Biman is currently in talks to dry lease a B777-200LR for delivery in the next six weeks as well as a couple of B777-200(ER)s on five–year dry leases from summer 2014. For its domestic and regional operations, the Bangladeshi national carrier is also close to finalising the acquisition of two ATR72s. Mr Steele says his longterm aim is to develop Biman into a world-class carrier operating routes that are not only financially sustainable, but open to future growth and development as well.