Biman to order Boeing jets, lease Airbus aircraft to bridge delivery gap
Dhaka: Bangladesh is moving ahead with plans to order new aircraft from Boeing, while preparing to lease planes from Airbus to cover a multi-year delivery gap, according to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
The government has granted in-principle approval for Biman Bangladesh Airlines to acquire 14 Boeing aircraft, with only the formal signing of the agreement remaining. The proposed deal — estimated at around USD 3.7 billion at list prices — is expected to include a combination of 787 Dreamliners for long-haul routes and 737 MAX jets for regional operations.
As deliveries of the new aircraft are likely to take up to five years, authorities are pursuing an interim solution to avoid capacity constraints. BSS cited officials saying that the government is exploring leasing options, primarily from Airbus, with a preference for dry leasing arrangements during the transition period.
The dual strategy aims to stabilize operations in the short term while supporting long-term fleet modernization. Currently, Biman operates about 14 aircraft on international routes, significantly below the estimated requirement of 30 to 35 planes needed to meet growing passenger demand and planned route expansion.
In parallel, the government has begun reviewing Biman’s operational structure to improve efficiency and service quality, alongside efforts to recruit staff to address manpower shortages.
BSS cited officials saying, the combined measures — new purchases, temporary leasing, and internal reforms — are intended to position the national carrier for sustained growth and bring it closer to international standards.
T
