Senior Correspondent, Dhaka:
Bangladesh is set to expand Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ aircraft portfolio with a new US$2 billion agreement to purchase 10 Airbus aircraft, adding a European dimension to the national carrier’s large-scale fleet renewal program.
The agreement, covering four A350-900 wide-body aircraft and six A321neo narrow-body jets, was signed in Dhaka on Wednesday under the theme “Spreading Our Wings Together.” Airbus deliveries are currently scheduled to begin in 2033 and continue through 2035, although Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat has said Bangladesh wants deliveries to start before 2030.
The Airbus purchase comes shortly after Biman reached agreements with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing for a total of 25 aircraft. The initial agreement, signed on April 30, covers 14 aircraft, while a supplementary agreement signed on September 23 adds 11 more. Together, the Boeing purchases are valued at about US$6.7 billion.
The simultaneous engagement with Boeing and Airbus gives Biman an opportunity to diversify its fleet while strengthening Bangladesh’s relationships with two major aviation powers. However, it also introduces questions over fleet management, maintenance, pilot training, spare parts, and long-term operating costs as the airline expands beyond its predominantly Boeing-based fleet.
The Airbus deal also carries a wider diplomatic and economic dimension. French Ambassador Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet has urged a “level playing field” in the aircraft negotiations and linked the issue to Bangladesh’s broader relationship with Europe. He has also highlighted the importance of the European market to Bangladesh’s export economy, particularly as Dhaka prepares for prospective free trade agreement negotiations with the European Union.
With Biman currently operating 19 aircraft, most of them Boeing jets, the Airbus agreement represents more than fleet expansion. It could also become part of Bangladesh’s broader effort to balance commercial aviation needs with its strategic relationships with the US and Europe.
