Biman Bangladesh Breaks Boeing Reliance with 10 Airbus Jets Order
Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the 51 year-old state-owned carrier of Bangladesh, has announced its decision to purchase 10 aircraft from Airbus, marking a significant shift away from its Boeing-dominated fleet. The announcement was made during the Saudi-French investment forum in Paris, coinciding with the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The order includes 10 Airbus A350 widebody planes, renowned for their capacity to carry up to 369 passengers and cover distances of up to 9,700 nautical miles. By introducing the A350s, Biman Bangladesh aims to expand its network and serve new destinations across Europe, Asia, and North America.
This order signifies Biman Bangladesh’s inaugural engagement with the French aircraft manufacturer, as the airline seeks to diversify its fleet and reduce its reliance on the U.S.-based planemaker, which traditionally dominates widebody orders. With a fleet of over 20 aircraft, predominantly composed of Boeing planes, the airline plans to expand its fleet size to 45 aircraft by 2031.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has a fleet size of 21 aircraft as of June 2023:
- 4 Boeing 777-300ER
- 4 Boeing 787-8
- 3 Boeing 787-9
- 6 Boeing 737-800
- 5 Dash 8-400
Mahbub Ali, the junior minister for civil aviation, stated that the decision to purchase Airbus planes was driven by the airline’s requirements, and a technical committee is currently evaluating the details of the deal. He emphasized that Biman Bangladesh did not currently have any Airbus aircraft in its fleet and highlighted that most countries maintain a mix of both Airbus and Boeing planes.
At present, Airbus has declined to comment on the agreement, while Biman Bangladesh has not provided a response to inquiries. It remains uncertain whether the deal will be finalized in time for the Paris Airshow, which commenced on Monday June 19.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, menafn.com, Reuters.com