Dhaka: Biman Bangladesh Airlines has decided to take two 777-200ER aircraft on wet lease for three months to carry Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia smoothly during the upcoming hajj.

"Alongside our own four 777-300ER aircraft, Biman will induct two 777-200 ER on wet lease for three months as it's going to start hajj flight operation on July 24," Biman's general manager (PR) Shakil Meraj told UNB.

He said the national flag carrier is going to carry a record number of 65,000 hajj pilgrims this year.

The aircraft must have 300 seats -- at least in two classes -- and the age of the aircraft must not exceed 20 years.

A senior Biman official involved in Corporate Planning Biman wants to operate the hajj flight smoothly. "We can operate the hajj flights with our own aircraft, but for that we'll have to suspend flights on some of our existing routes during the hajj," he said.

Currently, Biman has four Boeing 777-300 ERs, two Boeing 777-200 ERs, four Boeing 737-800s and two Dash-8 in its fleet.

Some 1,27, 198 Bangladeshis are expected to perform hajj this year, with some 1,17,198 under private management and 10,000 under government management.