Biman Bangladesh approves purchase of 14 Boeing aircraft

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has finally decided to purchase 14 aircraft from US-based manufacturer Boeing.

The decision received policy-level approval at a board meeting of the national flag carrier, held Tuesday (30 December), Biman spokesperson Boshra Islam told The Business Standard.

According to the board decision, formal negotiations will now begin with Boeing regarding pricing and other terms and conditions.

Earlier, in August, amid negotiations over reciprocal tariffs with the United States, the government committed to procuring 25 Boeing aircraft.

Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman recently told the media that this commitment is part of a broader trade arrangement with Washington.

Biman's current fleet is already dominated by Boeing, which accounts for 14 of its 19 aircraft.

Sources at Biman said the board reviewed Boeing's aircraft sales proposal dated 24 November 2025, along with a revised draft agreement submitted on 20 December 2025.

Under the proposal, Boeing expressed interest in supplying two Boeing 787-9s, eight Boeing 787-10s, and four Boeing 737-8s.

The board granted policy-level approval to the proposal and authorised the continuation of negotiations.

Officials clarified that this approval only marks the formal initiation of discussions, and Biman will not be bound by any financial or legal obligations until a contract is signed.

Meanwhile, following the Commerce Secretary's remarks regarding the Boeing purchase, European diplomats have intensified their efforts to promote Airbus aircraft in Bangladesh.

Discussions over the possible purchase of 10 Airbus aircraft date back to the previous government. After a meeting with then prime minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka in September 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron publicly thanked Bangladesh for its commitment to acquiring the aircraft.

At present, Airbus is ramping up both diplomatic and commercial engagements, while Biman faces increasing economic and operational pressure to expand its fleet in a rapidly growing aviation market where Bangladeshi carriers currently hold only a 25% market share.