Biman Bangladesh Airlines is expected to sign an agreement with Airbus in October to purchase 10 new aircraft, according to Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat.
The proposed deal includes four Airbus A350-900 widebody aircraft and six A321neo narrowbody jets. If completed, the order will add to Biman’s existing plans to acquire 25 Boeing aircraft, bringing the national flag carrier’s new-aircraft procurement pipeline to 35 planes.
Millat confirmed the planned Airbus purchase at a press briefing at the Secretariat, saying the agreement would be signed in October.
The Airbus plan comes shortly after Biman expanded its Boeing order to 25 aircraft.
In April, Biman signed an agreement for 14 Boeing aircraft, comprising eight 787-10s, two 787-9s and four 737-8s. In September, the airline signed a supplementary agreement for another 11 aircraft—five 787-10s and six 737-8s.
The 25 Boeing aircraft are scheduled for delivery over the coming years, with the first aircraft from the earlier order expected from 2031.
Biman currently operates a fleet of 19 aircraft, although some aircraft are nearing the end of their operational lives. The planned Airbus and Boeing purchases are part of a longer-term fleet renewal programme.
The Airbus package would introduce Airbus aircraft to Biman’s fleet for the first time. The A350-900 is designed for long-haul operations, while the A321neo is suited to regional and medium-haul routes.
The proposed Airbus agreement is also expected to include support related to areas such as financing, maintenance, repair and overhaul, crew training and fleet planning, according to earlier reports on the negotiations.
Because the newly ordered aircraft will take several years to arrive, Biman is also exploring the possibility of leasing at least 10 aircraft to increase capacity in the short term.
The government says additional aircraft would allow Biman to increase flight frequencies on routes where demand currently exceeds the airline’s available capacity, particularly on Middle Eastern routes.
The planned fleet expansion is expected to support Biman’s efforts to increase services on existing international routes and explore additional destinations.
Officials have also discussed expanding services to destinations such as Sydney, resuming flights to New York, and increasing services to Japan.
According to reports, Biman’s current capacity remains significantly below overall passenger demand, with foreign airlines carrying a substantial share of passengers travelling to and from Bangladesh.
If the Airbus agreement is finalised, Biman will have 35 new aircraft planned for acquisition—25 Boeing and 10 Airbus.
The fleet expansion is expected to take place gradually over the next decade, with new aircraft replacing older planes while also providing additional capacity for network expansion.
Biman’s management will also need to plan routes, staffing, maintenance and financing to support the larger fleet. Recent aviation industry analysis has highlighted these operational requirements as important considerations alongside the aircraft purchases.
Source: The Daily Star, The Business Standard, Financial Express
Date: 30 September 2026
