The Bangladesh government is preparing to sign a formal agreement in October to purchase 10 commercial aircraft from European manufacturer Airbus. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat confirmed the timeline during a press briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday, underscoring the state’s drive to modernise and expand the national flag carrier’s fleet.
The upcoming deal represents a strategic push by Biman Bangladesh Airlines to introduce manufacturer diversity into a fleet long dominated by American-made jets. Discussions regarding the Airbus procurement were first publicly highlighted in July, when the ministry noted that financial terms and conditions would be disclosed once contractual negotiations concluded. Under the framework currently being finalised, the proposed acquisition comprises four wide-body A350-900 long-haul aircraft and six narrow-body A321neo jets. Crucial commercial elements—including total order valuation, precise delivery schedules, and financing structures—will be formally locked in upon execution of the October contract.
This movement toward Airbus runs parallel to a substantial fleet commitment with Boeing. On 23 September, the government announced an agreement for 11 additional Boeing aircraft, building upon a prior contract signed in April for 14 jets. Together, these transactions bring Biman’s cumulative order book with the US aerospace giant to 25 aircraft. The latest cohort of 11 planes includes five Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners and six Boeing 737-8 aircraft.
Responding to public inquiry regarding the total volume of commitments, Minister Millat clarified that placing orders does not equate to immediate delivery or instant financial outlay. Deliveries under these contracts will be staged over an extended timeframe. For instance, the 14 Boeing aircraft ordered in April are scheduled to begin arriving in 2031, with subsequent batches spanning over a decade.
Minister Millat stressed that these decisions are tailored to meet projection requirements for the next quarter-century rather than short-term fleet deficits. Addressing operational strategies, he noted that selection criteria hinge entirely on route suitability, performance metrics, and sovereign requirements rather than balancing commercial playing fields between competing manufacturers. Operating a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft will require Biman to streamline maintenance operations, spare parts logistics, and crew training programmes across multiple platforms.
Highlighting regional comparisons, the Minister cited Ethiopian Airlines as a benchmark. Despite operating in an economy with a lower relative Gross Domestic Product, Ethiopia’s flag carrier maintains a fleet exceeding 160 aircraft and serves as a primary engine for national economic growth. Bangladesh, he argued, must scale up its aviation infrastructure to capture similar economic benefits. Aviation analysts note that while ambitious fleet expansion provides necessary capacity, long-term success will depend heavily on route profitability, operational efficiency, and skilled workforce development.
