US-Bangla Airlines is preparing another major aircraft leasing program that could be worth as much as $5 billion, putting the Bangladeshi carrier on course for one of the most aggressive fleet expansion campaigns in South Asian aviation.
Managing Director Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun said on September 12 that the airline plans to place an additional order for leased aircraft worth between $4 billion and $5 billion within the next 60 days. He made the announcement at a policy conclave in Dhaka focused on the future of Bangladesh’s aviation sector.
The announcement comes only weeks after US-Bangla unveiled a separate $1.5 billion leasing program for 21 Boeing aircraft, meaning the airline is now signaling an expansion strategy on a scale far larger than its previously announced fleet plans.
The latest proposal is still at an early stage. US-Bangla has not disclosed how many aircraft would be involved, which aircraft types it is considering, or whether the new jets would come from Boeing or Airbus.
That uncertainty, however, makes the development particularly significant. The carrier appears to be preparing for a much larger second phase of growth at a time when Bangladesh is seeking to capture more of its rapidly expanding international air travel market.
US-Bangla Signals Much Bigger Fleet Ambition
Speaking at the “World-class aviation for Bangladesh’s economic progress” policy conclave organized by The Daily Bonik Barta at the United Convention Centre in Kurmitola, Dhaka, Al Mamun confirmed that the airline intends to move ahead with another large leasing program.
The $4 billion-to-$5 billion figure is considerably larger than US-Bangla’s previously announced $1.5 billion fleet expansion.
The airline has yet to provide a detailed delivery schedule for the proposed aircraft. It is also unclear whether the new leasing program would be structured as a single transaction or divided among several lessors and delivery periods.
For now, the most important point is the size of the proposed investment.
If completed at the upper end of the range, the new program would represent a major commitment to the future of US-Bangla Airlines and could transform the scale of its operations over the coming years.
21 Boeing Aircraft Already on the Way
US-Bangla’s latest announcement follows its decision in July to add 21 Boeing aircraft under a leasing arrangement valued at approximately $1.5 billion.
That program consists of 15 Boeing 737-8 aircraft and six Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to take place through the end of 2027.
The 21 aircraft are intended to provide the capacity needed for additional international services and higher frequencies on existing routes. US-Bangla has identified destinations across South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and the Middle East as potential areas for expansion.
The carrier has previously identified cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Colombo, Kathmandu, Kunming, Shenzhen, Beijing, Johor Bahru, Penang, Kuwait, Bahrain, Madinah, Dammam, and Salalah as part of its international growth plans, subject to the necessary regulatory and bilateral approvals.
The new Boeing aircraft will also give US-Bangla more capacity to compete with foreign airlines that currently carry a large share of Bangladesh’s international passengers.
Why the $5 Billion Plan Matters
Bangladesh’s international aviation market presents a substantial opportunity for local airlines.
US-Bangla has previously pointed to an international air travel market worth about $5.8 billion annually, with foreign carriers carrying the majority of passengers. That imbalance means a significant portion of passenger spending associated with international travel leaves Bangladesh.
US-Bangla’s strategy is therefore about more than simply putting additional aircraft into service.
More aircraft could allow the airline to increase frequencies, open new international routes, strengthen connections through Dhaka, and potentially develop international operations from other Bangladeshi cities.
The airline has also discussed developing Chattogram and Sylhet as regional international hubs, reducing the country’s reliance on Dhaka as the primary gateway for overseas travel.
That would represent a meaningful change for Bangladesh’s aviation network.
Boeing or Airbus? US-Bangla Keeps the Door Open
One of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding the proposed $4 billion-to-$5 billion program is the identity of the aircraft manufacturer.
US-Bangla has not yet said whether the aircraft will come from Boeing or Airbus.
That is notable because the airline’s immediate expansion program is heavily centered on Boeing narrowbody aircraft. Its July announcement involved 15 Boeing 737-8s and six Boeing 737-800s.
A future decision involving Airbus could introduce a new dimension to the carrier’s fleet strategy, although there is currently no indication that US-Bangla has selected either manufacturer for the latest program.
The eventual aircraft mix will likely depend on several factors, including delivery availability, financing and leasing terms, route requirements, operating economics, and the airline’s long-term fleet strategy.
For now, US-Bangla is keeping those details under wraps.
Building an Airline Group, Not Just a Bigger Fleet
US-Bangla’s expansion plans have increasingly extended beyond passenger aircraft.
When announcing the 21-aircraft Boeing program in July, the airline said it was investing in technology, employee training, maintenance, cargo, catering, and aviation infrastructure as part of a wider ambition to develop into an integrated aviation group.
The company has also outlined plans involving aviation training and maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities.
That broader strategy is important because adding dozens of aircraft requires much more than securing leases.
US-Bangla will need pilots, cabin crew, engineers, maintenance capacity, airport slots, training infrastructure, spare parts, ground-handling resources, and sufficient demand to support the expanded network.
The airline has already indicated that it is preparing for this wider ecosystem rather than treating fleet growth as an isolated investment.
Bangladesh Aviation Could Be Entering a New Phase
US-Bangla’s plans also come as Bangladesh seeks to strengthen its position as a regional aviation market.
The country’s aviation infrastructure is expected to receive a major boost from the expansion of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Officials have said the airport’s third terminal is designed to raise annual passenger-handling capacity to 24 million.
At the same time, state-owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines has its own plans to expand its Boeing fleet, creating the prospect of significantly greater aircraft capacity among Bangladesh’s leading carriers.
For US-Bangla, that creates both an opportunity and a challenge.
A substantially larger fleet could allow the airline to capture more international traffic, but it would also increase pressure to fill seats, maintain competitive fares, and build profitable routes.
The $4 billion-to-$5 billion plan therefore represents more than an eye-catching investment figure. It is a bet that Bangladesh’s international aviation market can support a dramatically larger homegrown airline presence.
The Next 60 Days Will Be Crucial
US-Bangla’s statement sets a clear timeline for the next stage of its expansion.
Within 60 days, the airline says it expects to place the additional leased aircraft order. Until then, questions remain over the number of aircraft, manufacturer, aircraft types, delivery timetable, and leasing structure.
Those details could determine how transformative the proposal ultimately becomes.
For now, US-Bangla has already sent a powerful signal to the market: its recently announced 21-aircraft Boeing expansion may only be the beginning.
If the carrier follows through with a $4 billion-to-$5 billion leasing program, US-Bangla could emerge as a substantially larger player in South Asian aviation, while intensifying competition for international passengers traveling to and from Bangladesh.
The next major announcement may therefore reveal not only how many aircraft US-Bangla wants, but how far the airline believes Bangladesh’s aviation market can grow.
For more on similar developments, see: US-Bangla Orders 21 Boeing 737s in Major Fleet Growth
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