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Tuesday | October 06, 2026 | Dhaka

Deal for 10 Airbus aircraft on Wednesday

 Staff Reporter
 Published: 12:56 AM, 05 October 2026  Updated: 11:45 PM, 04 October 2026

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to sign an agreement to purchase 10 Airbus aircraft on 7 October in Dhaka, marking a major step in the national flag carrier’s long-term fleet expansion and modernisation plans.

Jürgen Westermeier, president and managing director of Airbus India and South Asia, and Kaiser Sohel Ahmed, managing director and chief executive officer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, will sign the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations, officials sources said.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kobir are expected to attend the signing ceremony, scheduled to take place at the Radisson Hotel in the capital on Wednesday evening.

Under the agreement, Biman will purchase four Airbus A350-900 wide-body aircraft for long-haul international routes and six A321neo narrow-body aircraft for regional and medium-haul operations.

The total commercial value of the deal has not yet been officially disclosed.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat had earlier confirmed the plan to purchase 10 Airbus aircraft, telling reporters at the Secretariat, “We are buying 10 Airbus aircraft. Inshallah, the agreement will be signed in October.”

The minister said deliveries could begin in 2033 and continue until 2036 or 2037.
The four A350-900 aircraft are intended to strengthen Biman’s capacity to operate long-haul international services, while the six A321neo aircraft are expected to serve regional and medium-haul routes.

The smaller aircraft will allow the airline to match capacity more efficiently with passenger demand on routes that do not require larger planes.

The agreement will also mark a significant shift in Biman’s fleet strategy, introducing new-generation Airbus aircraft alongside its predominantly Boeing-operated jet fleet.
Although Biman previously operated Airbus aircraft, most of its current jet fleet is manufactured by Boeing.

The Airbus purchase forms part of the airline’s largest planned fleet expansion. Biman had earlier agreed to purchase 14 Boeing aircraft, comprising eight 787-10 Dreamliners, two 787-9 Dreamliners and four 737-8 aircraft.

A further 11 Boeing aircraft were subsequently added to the procurement plan, including five 787-10 Dreamliners and six 737-8 aircraft, bringing the total planned Boeing purchases to 25.

With the proposed acquisition of 10 Airbus aircraft, Biman’s long-term procurement plan will include 35 new aircraft, comprising 19 wide-body and 16 narrow-body planes.
The expansion is aimed at increasing passenger capacity, improving operational efficiency and strengthening the airline’s international network.

Biman is also considering leasing aircraft to meet its short-term capacity requirements while awaiting deliveries of the newly ordered planes, which are expected to take several years.

The signing of the Airbus agreement on 7 October would formalise a major component of Biman’s long-term fleet modernisation strategy, diversifying its aircraft procurement beyond Boeing and laying the groundwork for expanding its regional and long-haul operations.