Key facts
- Biman Bangladesh Airlines has agreed to buy 10 Airbus aircraft: four A350-900s and six A321neos.
- The agreement is expected to be signed in October 2026.
- The total planned new aircraft pipeline for Biman, including Boeing orders, reaches 35 planes.
- Biman aims to expand its international network and establish Bangladesh as a regional aviation hub.
- The airline plans to lease 10 aircraft to cover the gap until new jets are delivered starting in 2031.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national flag carrier of Bangladesh, has entered into an agreement to acquire 10 Airbus aircraft, comprising four A350-900 wide-body jets and six A321neo narrow-body jets. This significant order, expected to be finalized in October 2026, is part of an ambitious fleet expansion program aimed at modernizing the airline and bolstering Bangladesh's position as a regional aviation hub.
The new Airbus order, combined with existing agreements for Boeing aircraft, brings Biman's total planned new aircraft pipeline to 35 planes. This includes a supplementary Boeing deal for 11 additional jets, valued at approximately $2.7 billion, which brings Biman's total Boeing acquisition to 13 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, two 787-9 Dreamliners, and 10 Boeing 737-8 aircraft. The initial Boeing agreement from April 2026 covered 14 aircraft with deliveries scheduled from late 2031.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat stated that the Airbus agreement is slated for signing in October 2026. The wide-body aircraft are intended for high-demand routes to the Middle East, Europe, and North America, while the narrow-body jets will serve regional routes and replace older Boeing 737-800s. To address immediate capacity needs, Biman plans to lease 10 aircraft by next year, as new deliveries are not expected to commence before 2031. The airline currently serves just over 20% of the country's air travel demand, with the expansion aiming to capture a larger share of the market, following a model similar to Ethiopian Airlines' growth strategy.