Dhaka: State-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines has issued a fresh Request for Proposal (RFP) to dry lease three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for six years following an unsuccessful attempt to secure the aircraft under a previous tender.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the national flag carrier’s initial RFP attracted a poor response, prompting Biman to issue a new tender on August 10. The deadline for submission of proposals is set for 10:00am BST (0400 GMT) on August 25, as revealed by the airline’s Corporate Planning Department. The previous tender was floated on July 15, with a submission deadline of August 9.
Under the new RFP, Biman aims to lease three Boeing 787-9 aircraft for a 72-month term, with immediate induction preferred and delivery by January 1, 2027. Aircraft available for delivery up to February 28, 2027, will also be considered during the technical evaluation. The dry lease agreement requires Biman to manage the aircraft’s operation, including pilots, cabin crew, maintenance, and insurance.
The aircraft must not exceed 15 years of age by June 30, 2027, and should be powered by GEnx-1B74/75 engines with a maximum take-off weight of 254,000 kg. Preference is given to sister-ship aircraft offered by the same lessor. Each aircraft must feature a two-class configuration with more than 300 seats, including 180-degree full-flat Business Class seats and at least a 31-inch seat pitch in Economy Class. All seats must be new.
The aircraft must be delivered in fully operational condition with valid Certificates of Airworthiness and Registration, following a fresh C-check. Major scheduled maintenance, including heavy maintenance checks and landing gear overhauls, should not be due within the first 24 months of the lease. The aircraft must be painted in Biman’s official livery at the lessor’s expense and based at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
The RFP specifies advanced avionics and safety systems requirements, including Engine Health Monitoring, Aircraft Health Monitoring, Flight Data Monitoring, upgraded flight recorders, TCAS Version 7.1, ACARS, Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems, satellite communications, and GPS/GNSS navigation. The aircraft must comply with FAA, EASA, and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh regulations.
Biman expects each aircraft to operate around 4,000 flight hours annually. Financial proposals must separately quote monthly lease rentals, maintenance reserves for major components, and security deposits. The evaluation will assign 25 percent weight to technical criteria and 75 percent to financial viability, based on the Net Present Value of cash flows over the lease period. Technically responsive bidders will enter into negotiations with Biman in Dhaka.
Biman reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals without assigning a reason. The airline currently operates a fleet of 19 aircraft, including various Boeing models and Dash 8-400s. Biman began modernizing its fleet with new-generation aircraft following agreements with Boeing in 2008, which resulted in the addition of multiple aircraft over the years. The fleet modernization also included acquiring three Dash 8 aircraft through a government-to-government agreement with Canada, joining the fleet between December 2020 and March 2021.