Biman signs deal for 11 new Boeing aircraft

Bangladesh’s national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines has signed an agreement with Boeing to purchase 11 more aircraft as part of its fleet modernisation and international network expansion plans.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Biman 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.

The latest order comprises five Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners and six 737-8 aircraft, taking Biman’s total Boeing orders this year to 25.

Boeing said the new aircraft would enable Biman to increase capacity and expand its international network while maintaining operational commonality with its existing Boeing fleet.

The 737-8 will offer greater range and flexibility for the airline's single-aisle network, while the 787-10 will add capacity alongside its existing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners.

Fuel efficiency is also a key feature of the new aircraft. According to Boeing, its 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX families offer 20-25 per cent greater fuel efficiency than the aircraft they are designed to replace.

Mahdi Amin, an adviser to the prime minister, said the new aircraft were needed as Bangladesh's aviation sector expands and new international routes are planned.

"Bangladesh's aviation sector is expanding, and there are plans to open new routes. That is why new aircraft are needed," he told reporters in New York.

He said Bangladesh had a longstanding commercial relationship with Boeing but could also hold discussions with Airbus in the future. The country's requirements, rather than any particular manufacturer, would remain the priority in future fleet procurement, he added.

Biman Chairman Rumi A Hossain said the agreement was an important step towards renewing the airline's fleet and expanding its network.

"As the national flag carrier, we are working to improve Biman's network and capabilities by taking into account the connectivity needs of the people of Bangladesh, expatriate Bangladeshis, businesses and tourism," he said.

Boeing's McMullen said the order reflected Biman's strategic plan to modernise its fleet and increase capacity, describing it as another sign of the long-standing partnership between the two sides.

On April 30, Biman placed an order for 14 Boeing aircraft, which Boeing described as the largest Boeing order in the airline's history. That deal comprised eight 787-10s, two 787-9s and four 737-8s.

Boeing had said the 787-10s would be used on high-demand Middle Eastern routes, while the 787-9s would serve long-haul destinations in Europe and North America. The 737-8s were intended to strengthen regional connectivity with destinations in the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia.

The latest deal was welcomed by the United States. US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen congratulated Bangladesh and Boeing, saying the agreement represented positive progress in US-Bangladesh relations.

Bangladesh Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick attended the signing ceremony, along with other officials and Boeing executives.