B Mirror Reort:Days after the national flag carrier inked a US$3.7 billion contract with rival Boeing, European aerospace maker Airbus has made a new offer to Biman Bangladesh Airlines to deliver 10 aircraft, according to officials.
According to Biman sources, Airbus has formally placed the new fleet proposal before the airline’s techno-finance committee. The offer includes four Airbus A350-900 wide-body aircraft and six Airbus A321neo jets, intended for the carrier’s next phase of expansion.
Biman General Manager (Public Relations) Bushra Islam confirmed the development, saying that the proposal is currently under review. “We have received a fresh proposal from Airbus recently and our techno-finance committee is now evaluating it,” she told BSS.
The move comes shortly after Biman signed an agreement with Boeing to purchase 14 aircraft, including eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, two 787-9 Dreamliners, and four Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The deal is being financed by the US Export-Import Bank.
Airbus Vice President Edward Delahaye recently held meetings in Dhaka with Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam, State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, and senior Biman officials, where the European company presented its mixed-fleet proposal for Biman’s long-term expansion plan.
The government is currently reviewing a roadmap to expand Biman’s fleet to 47 aircraft by the 2034–35 fiscal year, as part of efforts to modernise the national carrier and improve global connectivity.
Aviation experts say Airbus views the expansion plan as an opportunity to challenge Biman’s long-standing Boeing-dominated fleet structure, amid intensifying competition between the two global aircraft manufacturers.
The A350-900 aircraft can typically carry 300 to 350 passengers depending on configuration, while the A321neo accommodates around 180 to 220 passengers, making it suitable for regional and medium-haul routes, including Gulf and Asian destinations.
Experts note that a mixed-fleet strategy could offer Biman greater operational flexibility, improved route efficiency, and long-term cost optimisation, while also enhancing training adaptability for pilots and engineers across both aircraft types.
