Lesson 3/35 min
Airways and Biman Bangladesh
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited
- Formed: 4 January 1972; earlier name Biman Bangladesh Airlines
- First domestic flight: 4 February 1972 (Dhaka–Chattogram) (Khandokar's GK)
- First international flight: 4 March 1972 (Dhaka–London–Dhaka)
- Slogan: Your home in the sky
- Emblem: a flying balaka (crane) within a rising sun
- First woman pilot: Kaniz Fatema Roksana
- Training centre at Jashore; headquarters in Dhaka
Watch out: Khandokar's GK gives 4 March 1972 for the first international flight, Zubair's GK 5 March 1972. Banglapedia and most sources say 4 March; one official document says 7 March, so 4 March is used.
International airports (book)
| Airport | Place | Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) International | Kurmitola, Dhaka | The largest; opened 1980 |
| Shah Amanat International | Chattogram | International status in 1990 |
| Osmani International | Sylhet | International status in 1998 |
Did you know?: The book says 3 international airports, 5 domestic and 11 in all. These counts change over time, so check the latest official list. Shahjalal Airport's Third Terminal was targeted for a soft opening around 16 December 2026, with full operation in early 2027; it is not in the book.
Biman fleet and routes (book)
- Dreamliner names: Akashbina, Hangshobalaka, Gangchil, Rajhangsha, Sonar Tori, Achin Pakhi, Dhrubotara
- Boeing 787-8: 4; 787-9: 2; the exam answer is 6 Dreamliners
- 19 aircraft in all: 14 owned, 5 leased; besides Dreamliners, 4 Boeing 777-300ER, 2 Boeing 737-800 and 2 Dash-8
- 17 international routes (25 planned); the busiest foreign route is London
- Direct Dhaka–Japan flight started on 1 September 2023
Watch out: Fleet numbers change fast. In April 2026 Boeing said Biman operates 14 Boeing aircraft and ordered 14 more 787/737 MAX jets; in September 2026 it ordered 11 more, taking the order to 25. The book's 19 aircraft and 6 Dreamliners may be outdated.
First private airline
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Aero Bengal Airlines | 16 July 1995 (book) |
Check yourself
Who was Biman's first woman pilot?
At a glance
- 1
Biman Bangladesh was formed on 4 January 1972; first international flight 4 March 1972 (Dhaka–London).
- 2
Slogan: Your home in the sky; emblem: balaka; first woman pilot: Kaniz Fatema Roksana.
- 3
International airports: Shahjalal (Dhaka, 1980), Shah Amanat (Chattogram, 1990), Osmani (Sylhet, 1998).
- 4
First private airline: Aero Bengal (1995); direct Dhaka–Japan flight from 1 September 2023.
- 5
Biman's Dreamliners have seven names; the exam answer is 6 Dreamliners (book-based; numbers can change).