Biman signs deal with Airbus for 10 aircraft

Biman Bangladesh Airlines today signed an agreement with European planemaker Airbus to buy 10 aircraft, taking the number of planes in the national carrier's acquisition pipeline to 35.

The deal covers four A350-900 twin-aisle and six A321neo single-aisle aircraft.

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Rumee A Hossain, chairman of Biman, and Jürgen Westermeier, president and managing director of Airbus India and South Asia, signed the agreement at the Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden.

Biman Managing Director and CEO Kaizer Sohel Ahmed said the A350s would serve long-haul routes, while the A321neos would strengthen the regional network.

"The A350s will serve our long-haul routes with superior comfort, lower fuel burn and lower emissions, while the A321neos will strengthen our regional network, giving us the range and efficiency to open new markets and serve our customer demand," he said.

"This decision was not made lightly. It followed rigorous evaluation of our fleet, our network and our financial strategy, under the guidance of our board and with independent expert advice," Kaizer said.

"It is an investment in efficiency and sustainability, and in the future of our national carrier."

Westermeier called the agreement a "historic milestone" that reflected a shared vision for a rapidly evolving aviation market.

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"The potential for growth is immense," he said.

He said more than 7,00,000 passengers travel between Dhaka and 10 global cities every year, and another 5,00,000 are expected to join this market by 2030.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat asked Airbus to deliver at least one aircraft by 2026-27, as Bangladesh wants to bring forward the delivery schedule.

On Tuesday, he had said deliveries under the planned Airbus purchase should begin before 2030.

The minister also sought European Union’s support for the earliest possible withdrawal of the bloc's High Risk Cargo and Mail designation on cargo originating from Bangladesh.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and envoys of the UK, France and Spain attended the signing ceremony.

The Airbus deal follows two agreements with Boeing, signed in April and September, for 25 aircraft: 13 787-10s, two 787-9s and 10 737-8s.

Biman now operates 19 aircraft, but the fleet will not simply grow to 54, as several existing planes are expected to be phased out gradually as new ones arrive.

Under the Boeing deals, the first aircraft is due in November 2031 and the rest by October 2035.

The purchases have unfolded against a wider commercial and diplomatic backdrop. Bangladesh placed the Boeing orders while seeking to narrow its trade gap with the United States amid tariff concerns.

Meanwhile, Airbus submitted a proposal to Biman around four years ago, and European governments have since lobbied for the deal. Envoys from France, Germany, the UK and the EU jointly promoted Airbus for Biman last year.

Recently, the EU and French ambassadors called for a level playing field for the European manufacturer, as Biman went ahead with the Boeing purchase.