Biman Bangladesh Airlines has placed an order with Boeing for five 787-10 Dreamliners and six 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, with senior Bangladeshi government officials and US trade representatives present at the ceremony.
Biman Chairman Rumee A Hossain signed the agreement while accompanying the prime minister during UN General Assembly week. The signing was treated as a notable moment for bilateral ties between Bangladesh and the United States, coming amid wider trade discussions between the two countries.
Second Major Order This Year
The new order follows an earlier deal from April 2026, when Biman purchased eight 787-10s, two 787-9s, and four 737 MAX 8s, its largest aircraft order ever placed. With the latest addition, Biman’s combined order book for the 787 and 737 families now stands at 25 aircraft.
The April agreement was valued at roughly 3.7 billion dollars, with deliveries originally expected to begin in 2031. Exact pricing, financing terms, and delivery timelines for the newest 11-jet order have not yet been made public.
Why the Airline Is Expanding Its Fleet
Bangladesh’s Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat has said Biman is facing an aircraft shortage and that steps are being taken to add planes urgently. The purchase would sharply expand a fleet that currently numbers just 19 planes.
Officials have also linked the order to broader economic goals. The purchase is described as part of Bangladesh’s effort to boost imports from the United States, ease pressure from a roughly 6 billion dollar trade imbalance, and reduce the risk of tariff increases on Bangladeshi exports.
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A More Fuel-Efficient Fleet
The newly ordered planes are reported to be 20 to 25 per cent more fuel-efficient than the aircraft they will replace, a factor likely to help Biman cut operating costs as it grows its network.
Biman currently operates 787, 777, and 737 Next-Generation aircraft across an international network connecting Bangladesh with hubs in the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, and Europe. Airline leadership has framed the order as part of a long-term strategy rather than a one-off purchase.
Airbus Still in the Picture
The Boeing order does not close the door on other manufacturers. A government-appointed technical committee has also been reviewing a separate proposal to acquire 10 Airbus aircraft, with officials saying Bangladesh could buy planes from France, England, and Germany as well.
For now, though, Boeing has secured the larger share of Biman’s expansion plans, positioning the airline for a significant capacity boost once the new jets begin arriving through the next decade.
