Biman Bangladesh Airlines is heading toward one of the most significant fleet expansion programmes in its history, but the airline’s next chapter is becoming more complicated than a straightforward aircraft-buying spree.
The state-owned carrier is preparing to conclude an agreement for 10 Airbus aircraft, with the government targeting 31 August for the deal. At almost the same time, Bangladesh has signalled that it intends to spend billions of dollars on additional Boeing aircraft, potentially expanding an order that was already worth $3.7 billion.
The latest Boeing development was disclosed by US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs Sergio Gor, who said Bangladesh had reached a new deal with the United States to significantly increase its initial Boeing commitment. However, he did not disclose the number of aircraft, their models or the value of the additional purchase.
That uncertainty makes the Airbus agreement particularly interesting. If Biman proceeds with the proposed 10 Airbus aircraft while also expanding its Boeing commitments, the airline could be moving decisively away from its traditionally Boeing-dominated fleet toward a much larger mixed-fleet operation.
Airbus deal moves toward the finish line
The government has already said it wants to sign the Airbus agreement by 31 August.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the government had decided to proceed with the acquisition of 10 Airbus aircraft. The jets are not expected to arrive immediately, however, with deliveries projected to begin from 2031.
The latest Airbus proposal consists of four A350-900 wide-body aircraft and six A321neo narrow-body jets.
That combination would give Biman two very different capabilities. The A350-900 is designed for long-haul operations, while the A321neo can serve shorter and medium-haul routes with considerably smaller capacity.
The proposal was reduced from an earlier plan for 14 Airbus aircraft after Biman moved ahead with Boeing. Airbus had previously sought a larger role in Biman’s future fleet, but the revised offer reflects the changing shape of the airline’s procurement plans.
The Airbus deal, however, is not yet simply a matter of signing a document. The purchase still requires the completion of internal procedures, including final consideration of commercial terms and the down payment.
Airbus has also indicated that the issue would need to return to Biman’s board before the agreement is formally concluded. Negotiations over price and other conditions remain part of the process.
A fresh Boeing expansion changes the picture
Biman’s Airbus plans were already significant. The latest Boeing announcement makes the fleet strategy even more consequential.
In April, Biman signed an agreement to acquire 14 Boeing aircraft with a reported market value of around $3.7 billion. The order comprises eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and four Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft. Deliveries under that agreement are expected to begin in 2031 and continue through 2035.
Now, Sergio Gor says Bangladesh has agreed to spend billions more on Boeing aircraft and will significantly increase its initial order.
The important detail is that the latest announcement remains short on specifics. Neither the number of additional aircraft nor their models have been publicly identified. It is also not yet clear whether the reported commitment represents a formally signed aircraft purchase agreement or an expansion of the broader procurement plan.
That leaves Biman’s eventual fleet size difficult to calculate.
It does, however, underline the scale of Bangladesh’s ambitions for its national carrier.
From Boeing-heavy to mixed fleet
For years, Biman has relied heavily on Boeing aircraft. The proposed Airbus purchase would change that balance.
A mixed fleet can offer an airline more flexibility when matching aircraft to routes. Long-haul markets can be served by wide-body aircraft such as the A350 and Boeing 787, while narrower aircraft such as the A321neo and 737 MAX can be deployed on routes where lower capacity is more appropriate.
That flexibility could become increasingly valuable as Biman seeks to expand international connectivity.
But there is another side to the equation.
Operating aircraft from two major manufacturers brings additional training, maintenance, engineering and spare-parts requirements. Pilots and technicians must be qualified across different aircraft families, while the airline has to manage separate technical ecosystems and operational procedures.
For Biman, therefore, fleet diversification could provide greater strategic flexibility, but it will also demand stronger planning and execution.
The issue is particularly important because the airline is not merely replacing ageing aircraft. It is attempting to expand.
The fleet expansion gap
Biman currently operates a relatively small fleet compared with the ambitions outlined by the government.
The long-term plan has envisaged expanding the airline’s fleet to as many as 47 aircraft by fiscal 2034-35. The combination of the earlier Boeing agreement and proposed Airbus purchase would put Biman much closer to that target, although the latest Boeing announcement could alter the calculation again.
The immediate problem is timing.
New aircraft ordered today will not solve Biman’s capacity requirements overnight. Airbus deliveries are expected from 2031, while the first aircraft from the existing Boeing order is also scheduled for 2031.
That leaves several years during which Biman could face a capacity gap.
The airline has therefore been considering leased aircraft to bridge the period before the new jets arrive. The government has acknowledged that additional leased capacity will be necessary as Biman waits for its new-generation fleet.
This creates a three-stage fleet strategy: leasing aircraft in the short term, receiving large numbers of new jets from the early 2030s, and then building a significantly larger network around that fleet.
Why Airbus still matters
Airbus’s push into Biman has been about more than simply selling aircraft.
The European manufacturer has spent years trying to establish a stronger presence in Bangladesh’s national airline. Diplomatic engagement from European governments has accompanied the commercial campaign, particularly around the possibility of Biman introducing Airbus wide-body aircraft.
The competition became more visible after Biman selected Boeing for its 14-aircraft order.
Airbus’s revised proposal for four A350-900s and six A321neos can therefore be viewed as an effort to secure a long-term position in Biman’s fleet rather than compete only for a single purchase.
If the agreement is signed, Airbus would gain a significant foothold in an airline that has historically leaned heavily toward Boeing.
The real question is what Biman does with the aircraft
For passengers, the headline numbers may be impressive. Dozens of new aircraft would give Biman opportunities to open new routes, increase frequencies and improve its ability to compete for international traffic.
But aircraft purchases alone do not guarantee a stronger airline.
Biman will need profitable routes, efficient aircraft utilisation, competitive schedules and reliable operations to turn the investment into sustainable growth. The airline will also need to manage the additional costs associated with a mixed Boeing-Airbus fleet.
The arrival of new aircraft could be particularly important as Bangladesh seeks to strengthen Dhaka’s position as an international aviation hub. Growing airport infrastructure and passenger demand could create opportunities for Biman, but those opportunities will depend on how effectively the airline converts additional capacity into revenue.
A much bigger fleet strategy is taking shape
The Airbus agreement and the new Boeing announcement point to something larger than a single procurement decision.
Biman appears to be entering a period of rapid fleet expansion in which both Airbus and Boeing could play substantial roles. The confirmed $3.7 billion Boeing order, the proposed 10-aircraft Airbus agreement and the newly reported plan to increase the Boeing commitment together signal a potentially dramatic transformation of the national carrier.
Yet there are still important details to settle.
The Airbus agreement needs to clear its final stages before it can be considered complete. The size and composition of the newly announced Boeing expansion have not been disclosed. And Biman will have to bridge the gap between today’s fleet and the arrival of new aircraft from 2031 onward.
That makes the coming months particularly important.
The biggest story may no longer be whether Biman chooses Airbus or Boeing. Instead, it may be whether the airline can successfully manage both — and turn an unusually large fleet investment into a commercially stronger national carrier.
For more on Biman Bangladesh, see: Biman Bangladesh Finalizes Landmark Boeing Fleet Deal
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