European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has proposed supplying 10 aircraft to Biman Bangladesh Airlines, two weeks after the national carrier signed a $3.7 billion deal with rival Boeing to acquire 14 jets.
Biman sources said Airbus submitted a fleet proposal to the airline’s techno-finance committee, offering four Airbus A350-900 wide-body aircraft and six Airbus A321neo jets as part of Biman’s next phase of expansion.
US-Bangla Airlines currently operates eight A321neo aircraft in its fleet.
The proposal came shortly after the largest fleet expansion agreement in the country’s aviation history.
On 30 April, Biman signed a deal with Boeing to purchase eight Boeing 787-10 aircraft, two Boeing 787-9 aircraft and four Boeing 737-8 MAX jets at a cost of around $3.7 billion.
Airbus Vice President Edward Delahaye met Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam and State Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat on 5 May to discuss the proposal.
The Airbus delegation said a mixed fleet involving aircraft from multiple manufacturers could help Biman improve efficiency on short-, medium- and long-haul routes while reducing dependence on a single supplier.
Aviation experts said a shift towards a mixed-fleet strategy could mark a major change in Bangladesh’s aviation policy, as Biman has traditionally relied heavily on Boeing aircraft.
If pursued, the initiative could allow Airbus to secure its first major foothold in Bangladesh’s commercial aviation sector.
Biman currently operates a fleet of 19 aircraft, most of them Boeing jets.
