Sadik Sagar, Dhaka:
The growing competition between Boeing and Airbus over Bangladesh’s aircraft procurement is now taking on a wider diplomatic and commercial dimension, with the European Union calling for a “level playing field” in government purchases.
EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller urged the government to take Airbus’s offer “seriously” as it considers aircraft purchases alongside its existing agreement with Boeing.
At a meeting with Commerce Ministry officials in Dhaka on Sunday, Miller led ambassadors and representatives from all 27 EU member states and stressed that procurement decisions should be based on commercial merit, allowing European companies to compete with firms from other countries on equal terms.
“In our view, Airbus has an incredible competitive offer. This should be taken very seriously, and we expect a swift conclusion to talks between Airbus and Biman,” Miller said.
The comments come after state-owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed a $3.7 billion deal with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing on April 30 to purchase 14 aircraft. The deal, equivalent to around Tk454.08 billion at the cited exchange rate, is scheduled for delivery in phases between 2031 and 2035.
The Boeing deal, however, has also attracted political attention. US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Sergio Gor publicly described the agreement as a major new deal, while Trump later thanked Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for agreeing to purchase Boeing aircraft.
Civil Aviation Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat also said Bangladesh was purchasing the 14 Boeing aircraft at Trump’s request, with plans to lease additional aircraft in the future.
Against this backdrop, the renewed focus on Airbus places Biman’s fleet expansion at an interesting crossroads. The previous government had announced plans to purchase 10 Airbus aircraft. Following the political transition in 2024 and amid US pressure linked to tariffs, however, Biman’s major aircraft order ultimately went to Boeing.
The EU’s latest intervention indicates that aircraft procurement is no longer simply a matter of fleet planning for Biman. It has become connected with Bangladesh’s broader economic and diplomatic engagement with major trading partners.
For Biman, maintaining access to competing manufacturers could offer greater flexibility in terms of aircraft suitability, financing, operating costs, maintenance and long-term fleet strategy. At the same time, the government must ensure that procurement decisions are transparent and commercially justified.
The issue is also emerging alongside broader Bangladesh-EU discussions on trade, investment and non-tariff barriers. The EU has identified 61 such barriers, of which Bangladesh says 48 have already been addressed.
As Bangladesh seeks to strengthen trade relations with both the US and EU, the Boeing-Airbus competition presents a delicate balancing act. A procurement process grounded in commercial merit could help Dhaka protect its diplomatic interests while ensuring the best value and long-term benefits for Biman.
