Biman Adds 11 More Boeing Aircraft

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has signed a deal to buy 11 more Boeing aircraft as part of its fleet expansion plan. Together with an earlier order for 14 aircraft, the agreement brings Biman’s total Boeing order to 25. The plan combines long-haul and regional aircraft, while talks continue on a separate purchase of 10 Airbus planes.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, MP, announced the deal at a press briefing at the ministry’s conference room at 2pm on September 29. He said Biman had signed an agreement to buy 14 Boeing aircraft on April 30, 2026. Under the “Right to Purchase Additional Aircraft” provision in that agreement, a deal for 11 more Boeings was signed in New York on Wednesday, September 23.
The additional order consists of five Boeing 787-10 wide-body aircraft and six Boeing 737-8 MAX narrow-body aircraft. The supplementary agreement was signed at the same prices set out in the April 30 purchase contract, the minister said.
The total Boeing order comprises two 787-9s, 13 787-10s and 10 737-8 MAX aircraft. That is 15 wide-body aircraft and 10 narrow-body aircraft. Under the contract, the first aircraft is due for delivery in November 2031, with the final delivery scheduled by 2035. Biman has requested that at least one aircraft be delivered in 2027–28.
Biman is also in talks to buy four Airbus A350-900 wide-body aircraft and six A321neo narrow-body aircraft. The minister said the airline was working to build a sustainable mixed fleet.
Explaining the purchase plan, Millat said the number of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft was determined by considering passenger demand, Biman’s network and fleet planning, aircraft range and capacity, expected passengers per flight, and weekly flight frequency. Wide-body aircraft are intended mainly for high-demand Middle East routes and long-haul services to Europe and North America. Narrow-body aircraft will serve regional and short-haul routes and replace Biman’s older 737-800s.
He said Biman was following the Ethiopian Airlines model for fleet expansion. Ethiopian Airlines, once a small legacy carrier, now has 167 aircraft, while Bangladesh’s state-owned carrier has only 19. The minister said Bangladesh’s GDP and passenger demand at its airports are higher than Ethiopia’s. Biman currently serves slightly more than 20% of total demand, while foreign airlines carry the remaining 80%. The government has acted in a timely manner to address the aircraft shortage, he said, adding that the decision was not influenced by geopolitics.
On financing, the minister said Biman is a public limited company and would pay for the aircraft through its own revenue and suitable financing. Payments will be made in stages as deliveries take place. The plan takes into account Biman’s financial capacity, route revenue and projected future growth, he said, adding that it would not place a direct burden on the national budget.
//DBTech/TIP/SME/BPO//