Biman signs deal with Boeing for 11 more aircraft

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has signed a deal with Boeing to buy 11 more aircraft, expanding the national carrier’s planned Boeing order to 25 planes as it moves to modernise and expand its fleet.

The agreement was signed in New York on Wednesday (September 23) on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

The new order comprises five Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners and six 737-8 aircraft.

Biman board chairman Rumi A Hossain signed the agreement on behalf of the airline, while Boeing senior vice-president of Commercial Sales and Marketing Brad McMullen signed for the US aircraft manufacturer.

Bangladesh Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir and senior officials from both countries attended the signing ceremony.

Boeing said the aircraft will support Biman’s fleet expansion while replacing older planes with newer, more fuel-efficient models. The 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX families consume about 20–25 percent less fuel than their previous-generation counterparts, according to Boeing.

Biman had earlier signed a deal with Boeing on April 30 to purchase 14 aircraft for about $3.7 billion, including eight 787-10s, two 787-9s and four 737-8s. The aircraft from that order are scheduled to be delivered between November 2031 and October 2035.

The latest order will further expand Biman’s long-term fleet plan. Boeing said the 737-8 will strengthen the carrier’s single-aisle network, including longer-range operations, while the larger 787-10 will add capacity and complement Biman’s existing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners.

Biman currently operates 19 aircraft, including 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners, 777-300ERs, 737-800s and Dash 8-Q400s, serving destinations across the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia and Europe.

The carrier is also pursuing a separate plan to acquire 10 aircraft from Airbus — four A350-900 widebodies and six A321neo narrowbodies.

If both procurement plans go ahead, Biman’s fleet expansion programme would involve 35 new aircraft, comprising 25 Boeing and 10 Airbus planes.