Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to sign an agreement with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus on October 7 for the acquisition of 10 new aircraft, taking the national flag carrier a major step closer to operating a mixed Boeing-Airbus fleet.

The signing ceremony will be held at a Radisson hotel in the capital on Wednesday evening, a senior Biman official familiar with the development told Aviation Express on condition of anonymity.

The proposed package comprises four Airbus A350-900 wide-body aircraft and six A321neo narrow-body jets, designed to support Biman's future long-haul and regional network expansion.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat had earlier confirmed that Bangladesh would acquire 10 Airbus aircraft and said an agreement was expected to be signed in October.

“Yes, we are buying 10 Airbus aircraft. Inshallah, the agreement will be signed in October,” the minister recently told journalists at the Secretariat.

The October 7 ceremony would therefore move the Airbus procurement from months of evaluation and negotiation into a formal agreement, shortly after Biman expanded its Boeing acquisition programme to 25 aircraft.

Mixed fleet takes shape

The proposed Airbus acquisition would mark a significant change in Biman's long-term fleet strategy, introducing two Airbus aircraft families alongside its predominantly Boeing jet fleet.

The four A350-900s would be intended primarily for long-haul operations. The twin-engine wide-body is designed for intercontinental services and could support Biman's plans to expand capacity on existing long-haul markets while opening commercially viable new destinations.

The six A321neos would give the airline additional flexibility on regional and medium-haul routes where deploying a wide-body aircraft may not always be commercially efficient.

The combination would provide Biman with both long-haul capacity and a new-generation narrow-body platform as it seeks to increase its share of Bangladesh's rapidly growing international passenger market.

Millat has said deliveries of the Airbus aircraft could begin in 2033 and continue through 2036 or 2037, reflecting long aircraft manufacturing backlogs and the need for airlines to secure production slots years in advance.

Payments for the aircraft would largely be linked to their delivery rather than requiring Biman to pay the entire purchase amount immediately after signing, according to the minister.

Price remains undisclosed

The final commercial value of the proposed Airbus package has not yet been officially disclosed.

Aircraft purchase prices generally vary significantly depending on cabin configuration, engine selection, spare parts, maintenance and training packages, financing arrangements and other negotiated concessions.

The commercial details of the agreement, including the final negotiated price and detailed delivery schedule, are therefore expected to draw particular attention following Wednesday's signing.

The Airbus agreement follows an evaluation process over the European manufacturer's proposal to supply Biman with four A350-900s and six A321neos.

The proposal was considered alongside Biman's wider long-term fleet requirements as the carrier plans to replace ageing aircraft, expand capacity and strengthen its network.

35 new aircraft in pipeline

The planned Airbus purchase comes at a time when Biman is undertaking what could become the largest fleet expansion programme in its history.

Biman earlier agreed to acquire 14 Boeing aircraft in a package estimated at around US$3.7 billion. That agreement covers eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, two 787-9 Dreamliners and four 737-8 aircraft.

The airline subsequently added another 11 Boeing aircraft — five 787-10s and six 737-8s — taking its total Boeing acquisition programme to 25 aircraft.

If the 10-aircraft Airbus agreement proceeds as planned, Biman would have 35 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft in its acquisition pipeline.

The combined programme would comprise 19 wide-body and 16 narrow-body aircraft, giving the flag carrier substantially greater capacity across both long-haul and regional markets over the coming decade.

Biman is also considering leasing additional aircraft to address more immediate capacity requirements because most of the newly ordered aircraft will not arrive for several years.

Big expansion, bigger challenge

The scale of the aircraft programme represents a fundamental transformation of Biman's fleet strategy.

While the carrier has operated Airbus aircraft in the past, its current jet operation is centred on Boeing aircraft. Bringing the A350 and A321neo into the fleet would require Biman to prepare separate arrangements for pilots, engineers, maintenance, spare parts, ground equipment and technical support.

Operating a mixed fleet can increase complexity and costs, but it can also give an airline greater flexibility by allowing aircraft to be matched more precisely with different route structures and passenger demand.

The government has maintained that the procurement programme is based on Biman's future operational requirements and its ambition to build a sustainable mixed fleet.

The expansion also comes as Bangladesh prepares for substantial growth in aviation capacity, particularly with the development of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

For Biman, however, acquiring aircraft will be only one part of the challenge.

The carrier will also have to build a commercially viable network capable of absorbing the additional capacity, increase passenger market share, strengthen revenue management and ensure that fleet growth translates into sustainable profitability.

The October 7 signing is nevertheless poised to become another major milestone in Biman's fleet renewal programme and, if completed as planned, will place 35 Boeing and Airbus aircraft in the national carrier's long-term acquisition pipeline.