Biman signs Boeing deal for 11 more aircraft

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has signed an agreement with Boeing to purchase 11 additional aircraft, the US aircraft manufacturer announced early Thursday (Wednesday afternoon New York time).

The signing ceremony was held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

The national flag carrier has placed an order for 11 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX aircraft to expand and modernise its fleet, according to a Boeing press release.

In a separate release on Thursday morning, Biman said that the airline has signed a supplemental agreement with Boeing to purchase 11 additional aircraft, building on its earlier order for 14 planes.

The new purchase includes five 787-10 Dreamliners and six 737-8 jets. It follows Biman’s largest-ever aircraft order earlier this year, when it agreed to purchase 14 Boeing aircraft worth $3.7 billion.

Rumee A Hossain, chairman of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines board of directors, and Brad McMullen, Boeing’s senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

Government leaders attending the event included Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.

The latest agreement marks another major step in Biman’s fleet expansion programme, amid continued competition between US aircraft manufacturer Boeing and European aerospace giant Airbus for a larger share of the national carrier’s future fleet.

The previous agreement signed on 30 April for 14 aircraft, comprising eight 787-10 Dreamliners, two 787-9s and four 737-8s.

With the latest agreement, Biman’s planned Boeing acquisitions have increased to 25 aircraft.

Biman is also pursuing a separate proposed acquisition of 10 Airbus aircraft — four A350-900 widebody jets and six A321neo narrowbody aircraft.

If both packages proceed, the national carrier’s planned aircraft acquisition pipeline would reach 35 aircraft — 25 from Boeing and 10 from Airbus — compared with its current fleet of 19 aircraft.

The Boeing-Airbus competition has drawn particular attention as Bangladesh seeks to expand and modernise Biman’s fleet while maintaining aviation and commercial ties with both the United States and Europe.

The April Boeing order was the largest aircraft purchase in Biman’s history. It includes the airline’s first 787-10 Dreamliners and 737 MAX aircraft, with deliveries scheduled between 2031 and 2035.

“Today’s supplemental agreement is an important step in Biman’s ongoing fleet renewal and network expansion. This order responds to specific requirements in our fleet plan. Our team’s working relationship with Boeing over the years has given us confidence in the delivery and support arrangements,” said Rumee A Hossain, chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

“As the national flag carrier, we remain committed to developing Biman’s network and capabilities in a manner that responds to the connectivity needs of the people of Bangladesh, our expatriate community, business and tourism. This agreement is one part of a broader, carefully considered plan to strengthen the country’s international connectivity in the years ahead,” he added.

Biman currently operates Boeing 787, 777 and 737 Next-Generation aircraft across its international network, connecting Bangladesh with major hubs in the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, and Europe.

According to Boeing, the 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX families offer 20-25% greater fuel efficiency than the aircraft they replace, supporting Biman’s strategy to modernise its fleet and expand global connectivity.

“Biman’s follow-on order reflects its strategic approach to fleet renewal and capacity growth, and underscores the strength of our long-standing partnership,” said Brad McMullen, Boeing’s senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing.

“These additional 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX airplanes will deliver the efficiency, versatility and reliability Biman needs to support Bangladesh’s growing role in global aviation.”

Boeing said the addition of the 737-8 and 787-10 would strengthen Biman’s existing Boeing fleet and ensure operational commonality.

The 737-8 offers greater range for the airline’s single-aisle network, while the 787-10 provides higher capacity to complement Biman’s existing 787-9 and 787-8 aircraft.