Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Airbus have signed an agreement, ending months of discussion and negotiation. Biman has ordered 10 new Airbus aircraft to expand its fleet. This follows the airline’s procurement of several Boeing aircraft.
Fleet Expansion Imminent for Biman Bangladesh Airlines
On Oct. 7, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Airbus announced the airline had ordered 10 Airbus jets. The order included four long-haul A350-900s and six medium-haul A321neo jets.
Representatives from the Bangladeshi government, Biman, and Airbus met on Wednesday, Oct. 7, and signed an agreement. The signing ceremony, titled “Spreading Our Wings Together”, brought negotiations to a close between the two parties. Sources told The Business Standard that Airbus and Biman had reached a consensus on several outstanding issues and resolved all unsettled matters before the signing.
The order is expected to support Biman’s plan to expand its long-haul and regional network. Its Airbus order is worth roughly $2 billion.
Executive vice president of sales of commercial aircraft for Airbus, Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, commented:
“This order marks a significant milestone in our partnership with Biman Bangladesh Airlines, as it embarks on this important phase of fleet modernisation. Together, the A350 and A321neo form the perfect fleet strategy for Biman as it spreads its wings to new international destinations, catering to the growing demand across its network.”
The national flag carrier also recently ordered 11 Boeing aircraft, including Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
These orders will expand Biman’s fleet to 35 aircraft, comprising 19 widebody and 16 narrowbody jets. This expansion will significantly increase the airline’s capacity and its ability to expand its destination network.
Rumee A. Hossain, chairman of the airline’s board of directors, made a statement about the agreement:
“Bangladesh is a dynamic nation of 200 million people, backed by a resilient economy and a rapidly growing travel market. We are uniquely supported by a deeply connected global diaspora of 15 million people. In this context, our planned fleet expansion represents a measured and reasonable ambition.”
A Little About Biman Bangladesh Airlines
Biman Bangladesh Airlines is Bangladesh’s national carrier and was founded in 1972. Its primary hub is Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
The airline offers domestic and international passenger services and operates a cargo service.
In recent months, the Bangladeshi airline has made several comments about expanding its network and establishing itself as a key player in the aviation industry. In April, The Daily Star reported that the airline had plans to increase its aircraft count to 47 by the 2034-35 season. With the company’s aircraft orders, these plans seem well underway.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has also committed to continuing to expand its international destination network. The airline reportedly plans to operate routes to Kunming and Bahrain by 2028 and to offer services to Sydney, Jakarta, and Seoul by 2029.
Overall, the Bangladeshi airline has major growth plans and seems determined to solidify its place as a major carrier in the South Asian region. However, Biman’s aircraft orders are unlikely to be delivered until 2031 at the earliest, so it remains to be seen how the airline’s plans will progress.
What do you think of Biman’s latest aircraft expansion plans? Let us know in the comments below.
