Bangladesh Orders 14 Boeing Jets in Major Deal

National flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to sign an aircraft purchase agreement with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing. File photo

The national flag carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, is set to sign a major aircraft purchase agreement with Boeing on Thursday evening in Dhaka.

The signing ceremony is scheduled to take place at InterContinental Dhaka, with senior government officials, diplomats and aviation industry representatives expected to attend.

According to airline sources, the agreement will be signed by Biman’s Managing Director and CEO Kaizar Shohel Ahmed, while a senior Boeing representative will sign on behalf of the US aircraft manufacturer.

Key government figures, including Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Mofiz Afroz Khanam, are also expected to be present, along with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen.

The deal, valued at approximately $3.7 billion, involves the purchase of 14 new aircraft and is expected to be the largest fleet expansion initiative in the airline’s modern history.

Under the agreement, Biman will acquire eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, and four Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft.

Officials said the decision was taken to modernise the airline’s fleet, meet growing passenger demand and expand capacity on long-haul routes.

The Dreamliner aircraft will be deployed on routes to Europe, the Middle East and Asia, while the 737 MAX jets will serve regional and short-haul destinations.

The deal also marks the conclusion of more than three years of competition between Boeing and Airbus to secure the order.

Although Airbus had gained momentum following high-level diplomatic engagements, including a visit by Emmanuel Macron in 2023, Boeing ultimately retained the contract.

Industry observers say the agreement represents a significant step forward in strengthening Bangladesh’s aviation capacity and enhancing connectivity with key global destinations.