After prolonged deliberations over whether to purchase aircraft from Europe or the United States, the board of Biman Bangladesh Airlines has decided to buy 14 Boeing aircraft.
The decision was taken "in principle" at a meeting of the airline's board on Tuesday, according to Biman's General Manager (Public Relations), Bosra Islam.
For nearly two years, uncertainty had surrounded whether the national carrier would opt for aircraft from European manufacturer Airbus or US-based Boeing. The issue was finally settled at Biman's Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, chaired by Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, who is also chairman of the airline's board of directors.
During the meeting, the board principally approved the purchase of 14 Boeing aircraft, subject to price negotiations and other terms in line with recommendations from Biman's techno-finance committee, Bosra Islam said.
The approved order comprises eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and four Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft.
Officials said the interim government had earlier pledged to purchase aircraft from Boeing as part of efforts to help reduce the trade deficit with the United States. Following further evaluation and scrutiny, Biman finalised the decision.
Board members said the move was taken to enhance the country's aviation capacity, strengthen international connectivity and meet future passenger and cargo demand. Once inducted into the fleet, the aircraft are expected to create opportunities to expand operations in both state and commercial sectors.
After completing the required approvals and financial procedures, the final contract will be signed with Boeing, followed by phased delivery of the aircraft, sources said.
Earlier, European aircraft manufacturer Airbus had actively sought the deal, with ambassadors from the European Union and several countries engaging in diplomatic efforts to promote Airbus aircraft to Biman. However, those efforts did not succeed.
Officials noted that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a wide-body aircraft designed for long-haul international routes, while the Boeing 737-8 is a narrow-body aircraft typically used for regional and domestic flights. The addition of the new aircraft is expected to significantly expand Biman's operational capacity and route network. The decision marks a major step in fleet modernisation and is expected to strengthen aviation ties between Bangladesh and the United States, while supporting both passenger and cargo operations as the country seeks to expand its international air connectivity, Bosra Islam added.
