Biman signs with Boeing for 11 more aircraft

Bangladesh Biman Airlines has signed a supplemental agreement with US aircraft manufacturing company Boeing to purchase11 more aircraft.

The signing ceremony of Biman and Boeing supplementary agreement on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

Biman Board Chairman Rumi A Hossain and Boeing Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing Brad McMullen signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations, according to Biman.

“Today’s supplementary agreement marks an important step in Biman’s ongoing fleet modernization and network expansion program,” Rumi Hossain said.

The supplementary agreement covers five Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners and six 737-8 aircraft, according to Boeing, adding both long-haul wide-body and narrow-body capacity to Biman’s future fleet.

The latest purchase follows Biman’s order for 14 Boeing aircraft earlier this year, bringing the flag carrier’s Boeing order book for the year to 25 aircraft.

The earlier agreement, signed on April 30 and valued at approximately $3.7 billion, covers eight 787-10s, two 787-9s and four 737-8s.

Combined with the latest agreement, Biman’s Boeing acquisition program now comprises 13 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, two 787-9 Dreamliners and 10 Boeing 737-8 aircraft.

“This order has been placed in line with the specific requirements of our fleet plan. Our longstanding, effective and mutually cooperative relationship with Boeing has given us confidence in aircraft delivery and subsequent support arrangements,” Hosain said.

He said Biman, as the national flag carrier, remained committed to strengthening its network and capacity to meet the growing connectivity needs of people living in Bangladesh, expatriate Bangladeshis, business travelers and tourists.

“This agreement is part of a comprehensive and well-planned long-term strategy to further strengthen the country’s international air connectivity in the years ahead,” he said.

Deliveries under the earlier 14-aircraft agreement are scheduled between November 2031 and October 2035. However, the price, financing arrangements and delivery schedule for the additional 11 aircraft were not disclosed.

Boeing said the 787-10 would provide additional capacity to complement Biman’s existing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft, while the 737-8 would provide greater range for the airline’s single-aisle network.

The addition of the two aircraft types would also allow Biman to maintain operational commonality with its existing Boeing fleet.

Biman currently operates Boeing 787, 777 and 737 Next-Generation aircraft on its international network, connecting Bangladesh with destinations and major hubs in the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia and Europe.

Boeing said the 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX families offer 20 to 25 percent better fuel efficiency compared with the aircraft they replace, supporting Biman’s fleet modernization and international expansion plans.

McMullen said Biman’s follow-on order reflected the airline’s strategic approach to fleet renewal and capacity expansion as well as the longstanding partnership between the two companies.

“These additional 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX airplanes will deliver the efficiency, versatility and reliability Biman needs to support Bangladesh’s growing role in global aviation,” he said.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, Invest Bangladesh Authority Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin attended the signing ceremony.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau were also present.

Among others, US Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade William Kimmitt, Boeing Global Senior Vice President Brendan Nelson, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stephanie Pope, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S. Paul Kapur and Boeing Vice President for Commercial Sales and Marketing for Eurasia, India and South Asia Paul Righi attended the event.