Biman to sign historic Airbus deal today

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to sign a deal with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus to purchase 10 aircraft on Wednesday evening, marking the first time Airbus planes will join the national flag carrier’s fleet.

The agreement will be signed at the Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden at 6:30pm under the event titled “Spreading Our Wings Together.”

Under the deal, Biman will purchase four A350-900 wide-body aircraft and six A321neo narrow-body aircraft. The A350-900s are planned for long-haul international routes, while the A321neos will be used on regional and medium-haul routes.

Delivery of the aircraft could begin in 2033, with the planes expected to gradually join Biman’s fleet through 2036 or 2037.

Neither Bangladesh nor Airbus has disclosed the total value of the 10-aircraft deal.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, and Airbus India and South Asia President and Managing Director Jurgen Westermeier are expected to attend the signing ceremony.

The Airbus deal comes after Biman signed two agreements this year to purchase a total of 25 aircraft from US-based Boeing.

On April 30, Biman signed a deal worth around $3.7 billion for 14 aircraft, including eight 787-10 Dreamliners, two 787-9s and four 737-8s. The deal was valued at around Tk 45,408 crore.

On September 23, Biman signed another agreement in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to purchase 11 more aircraft — five 787-10s and six 737-8 Max aircraft.

According to the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, deliveries of the Boeing aircraft could begin in 2031, with the full fleet expected to arrive over 11 to 12 years.

Biman currently has 19 aircraft in its fleet, including 14 Boeing aircraft and five Dash 8s. Two aircraft are already nearly out of service, while the remaining 17 are expected to be retired over the next few years.

To meet its immediate needs, Biman is also trying to lease 10 more aircraft. However, despite several initiatives, the state-owned carrier has yet to lease any aircraft.

Once the 10 Airbus aircraft and 25 Boeing aircraft are added, Biman will have 35 new aircraft. Considering its existing fleet, the airline could eventually operate more than 50 aircraft.

Most of Biman’s current fleet is made up of Boeing aircraft. With the addition of Airbus planes, the national carrier will, for the first time, operate a fleet comprising aircraft from both US and European manufacturers.

sks