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Biman to sign 10 Airbus deal on Oct 7
Published : Monday, 5 October, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Observer Online Report
Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to sign an agreement with Airbus on October 7 to purchase 10 new aircraft as part of its long-term fleet expansion and modernisation plan.
Jürgen Westermeier, president and managing director of Airbus India and South Asia, and Kaiser Sohel Ahmed, managing director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, are expected to sign the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.
Officials familiar with the matter confirmed the development on Sunday (October 4).
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat and Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir are expected to attend the signing ceremony, scheduled to be held at a hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday evening.
Under the agreement, Biman will purchase four Airbus A350-900 wide-body aircraft and six A321neo narrow-body aircraft. The A350-900s are designed primarily for long-haul international operations, while the A321neos are suited to regional and medium-haul routes.
Minister Millat had earlier announced that Bangladesh would purchase 10 Airbus aircraft. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, he said the agreement would be signed in October.
According to the minister, deliveries could begin in 2033 and continue through 2036 or 2037. The total commercial value of the Airbus deal has not yet been officially disclosed.
Biman plans to deploy the four A350-900s on future long-haul international routes, while the six A321neos are expected to serve regional and medium-haul markets. The smaller-capacity A321neo will allow the airline to operate more efficiently on routes where larger wide-body aircraft are not required.
The deal will also mark the formal addition of Airbus aircraft to Biman’s predominantly Boeing-based jet fleet. Although Biman operated Airbus aircraft in the past, most of its current jet fleet is manufactured by Boeing.
The Airbus purchase is part of Biman’s broader fleet expansion programme. The airline had earlier agreed to purchase 14 Boeing aircraft, comprising eight 787-10 Dreamliners, two 787-9 Dreamliners and four 737-8s.
The planned Boeing purchases were later expanded by another 11 aircraft--five 787-10s and six 737-8s--bringing the total number of Boeing aircraft in its long-term purchase plan to 25.
If the 10 Airbus aircraft are added to the plan, Biman’s long-term fleet acquisition programme will comprise 35 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft--19 wide-body and 16 narrow-body jets.
Until the new aircraft begin arriving, Biman is also considering leasing aircraft to meet its short-term capacity requirements.
The October 7 agreement with Airbus will represent a significant step in Biman’s long-term fleet renewal and expansion strategy, while ending its recent reliance on Boeing as the sole manufacturer in its planned new-aircraft acquisitions.
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
