Biman Bangladesh Airlines is scheduled to sign an agreement with Airbus tomorrow to acquire 10 aircraft, advancing its long-term fleet expansion programme alongside the planned purchase of 25 Boeing aircraft.

The agreement covers four A350-900 wide-body aircraft and six A321neo narrow-body jets, officials familiar with the development said.

President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia Jürgen Westermeier and Biman Board Chairman Rumee A Hossain will sign the agreement on behalf of their respective sides, the officials said.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir are scheduled to witness the signing.

The ceremony, titled "Spreading Our Wings Together", will be held at 6:30 pm at Utshab Hall of Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden, according to a media invitation issued today.

Invest Bangladesh Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury is also scheduled to attend, the invitation said.

The planned acquisition would add Airbus aircraft to Biman's future fleet and broaden its aircraft procurement programme as the national flag carrier prepares to expand capacity over the coming decade.

Millat earlier confirmed that Bangladesh would acquire 10 Airbus aircraft, with the agreement expected in October.

"Yes, we are buying 10 Airbus aircraft. Inshallah, the agreement will be signed in October," he told journalists at the Secretariat.

The minister has said deliveries could begin in 2033 and continue through 2036 or 2037.

The four A350-900 aircraft are expected to support Biman's future long-haul operations, while the six A321neo jets would serve regional and medium-haul markets.

The acquisition would move the airline towards a mixed Boeing-Airbus jet fleet.

Biman earlier agreed to acquire 14 Boeing aircraft, comprising eight 787-10 Dreamliners, two 787-9 Dreamliners and four 737-8 aircraft.

Another 11 Boeing aircraft, comprising five 787-10s and six 737-8s, were subsequently added to the programme, taking the planned Boeing acquisition to 25 aircraft.

With the proposed Airbus purchase, Biman's long-term acquisition pipeline would reach 35 aircraft, comprising 19 wide-body and 16 narrow-body jets.

The airline is also considering aircraft leasing arrangements to meet shorter-term capacity requirements before deliveries of the newly-ordered aircraft begin.