US-Bangla to acquire 21 Boeing aircraft
US-Bangla Airlines yesterday announced the acquisition of 21 new Boeing aircraft in a deal worth approximately $1.5 billion, describing it as “one of the most significant fleet expansion programmes in the country’s aviation history.”
The announcement came at an event titled “Beyond with Boeing”, held at a city hotel in Dhaka.
The new fleet will comprise 15 Boeing 737-8 and six Boeing 737-800 aircraft, all scheduled for delivery by the end of 2027.
United States Ambassador Brent T Christensen described the announcement as a historic milestone and called Boeing Bangladesh’s “best business case”.
Colombo in Sri Lanka; Kathmandu in Nepal; Kunming, Shenzhen and Beijing in China; Johor Bahru and Penang in Malaysia; destinations in South Korea and Japan; Kuwait; Bahrain; Madinah and Dammam in Saudi Arabia; and Salalah in Oman.
Biman signs $3.7 billion Boeing deal for 14 new aircraft
“This investment represents much more than fleet expansion. It reflects our long-term vision to transform US-Bangla from an airline into a fully integrated global aviation group.
We are investing in aircraft, people, technology, training, maintenance, cargo, catering, and infrastructure to support the sustainable growth of Bangladesh’s aviation sector,” said Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun, managing director of US-Bangla Group and US-Bangla Airlines.
“Perhaps even more important is the investment in people. US-Bangla’s plan to send approximately 200 Bangladeshi pilots to the US for advanced training represents an investment in the next generation of aviation professionals,” he said.
“on Wednesday ceremony also highlights something larger: the stronger and expanding economic relationship between the US and Bangladesh. American companies offer innovation, technology, high-quality products and long-term partnerships. Bangladeshi companies likewise offer entrepreneurial spirit, determination and a vision for growth,” the US ambassador added.
Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir reflected on the challenges facing the aviation sector, saying the industry was pressing for tax relief and pledging financial support from the government.
Rashiduzzaman Millat, state minister for civil aviation and tourism, said that with the opening of the third terminal of the Dhaka airport, Bangladesh aims to serve 24 million passengers annually.
Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Chairman, Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq, and Paul Righi, vice-president of Sales and Marketing, Eurasia, India and South Asia for Boeing, also addressed the event.
