The New Nation - Internet Edition

AVIATION REPORTER

GMG Airlines will add another aircraft to its fleet to carry more passengers towards the Middle East, a company official said yesterday.

The new addition will help the country's first and the biggest private sector airliner increase flights towards various destinations, including Dubai, said company spokesman ATM Nazrul Islam.

The company yesterday ssigned a Letter of Intending deal for seven years with the US-based General Electric Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) under a "dry lease" system to bring in the aircraft.

The dry lease means GMG will have to carry all responsibilities of the aircraft after the GECAS supplies it.

"With this MD-83 aircraft GMG Airlines will increase its flight frequency to the Middle East," the spokesman said.

The aircraft is expected to reach at the end of July, he said.

The aircraft has 150 seats, including 16 business class and 134 economy class seats.

GMG that started its operations nearly one decade ago has seven aircraft in its fleet.

Currently GMG flies to various international destinations such as Kolkata, New Delhi, Katmandu, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur and Dubai.

GMG faced troubles in recent months when its Boeing 747-300 on Dhaka-Dubai-Dhaka route developed technical faults.

The aircraft was grounded on May 26 because of the technical glitches but resumed its operation on June 10.