Biman Bangladesh plans TATL resumption in late 1Q21

De Havilland to pause Dash 8-Q400 production in 2021

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada (DHC, Toronto Downsview) has resolved to pause its DHC-8-Q400 production line once all ordered aircraft are completed later this year.

"We will not be producing “whitetails” (i.e. completed aircraft ahead of confirmed orders) and market demand will guide our future production plans for the Dash 8-400 aircraft. While the very challenging market conditions being faced by the industry may lead to a pause in production this year, De Havilland Canada has not determined the duration of such a pause if one were to occur," the manufacturer's spokesperson told ch-aviation.

Leeham News reported that the Canadian manufacturer reportedly told suppliers that it would not require any more parts for the time being once the outstanding turboprops have been built.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, de Havilland has firm orders for twenty-two Dash 8-Q400s. However, only 13 of these have assigned customers: six are due to deliver to Ethiopian Airlines, four to TAAG Angola Airlines, two to Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and one to Air...

Bangladesh's Air71 eyes 3Q21 launch with B757 freighters

Air71 (Dhaka) plans to commence operations in the third quarter of 2021 with two B757-200(F)s, the start-up told Cargo Facts.

The Bangladeshi airline's preferred fleet strategy includes the acquisition of one B757 dedicated freighter and the dry-lease of another unit of the type. However, it is also contemplating alternative strategies, which entail launching with B737-800(F)s. In that scenario, the start-up would also consider buying passenger aircraft for P2F conversion.

Following the initial pair of aircraft, Air71 would look to add another two units within six to eight years of its launch.

Air71 obtained a No Objection Certificate from the Bangladeshi Civil Aviation Authority in October 2020. It is currently focused on securing financing for its launch.

The start-up eyes international scheduled cargo services as its core business but will also evaluate cargo charters and ACMI operations.

According to the ch-aviation PRO airlines module, SkyAir, Hello Airlines (Bangladesh), and Easy Fly Express are Bangladesh's active cargo specialists. None of the three operates any active narrowbody freighters....

Bangladesh's Biman refuses to cough up for fuel

Gov't reins in state control of Biman Bangladesh Airlines

Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG, Dhaka) was transformed into a public limited company in 2007. But on September 14, the country's cabinet met to approve a draft law retaining a provision for full government control over the flag carrier, the Daily Star newspaper reported.

The Bangladeshi cabinet approved in principle a draft of what is titled the Bangladesh Biman Corporation (Repeal) Bill 2020, under which the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism would have the authority to create, dissolve, and reorganise the board of directors of the company.

The existing Bangladesh Biman Corporation Ordinance 1977 is no longer required and is being repealed, cabinet secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam explained at a press conference after the meeting, which had been chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The ministry will soon take control of Biman Bangladesh Airlines as it is a government-owned company, Mohibul Haque, senior secretary at the ministry, elaborated to the Daily Star.

The relevant government departments also run state-owned oil firms Petrobangla and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation and their subsidiaries, he said, but “as...