The European Union has urged Bangladesh to ensure full transparency and fair competition in its upcoming aircraft procurement, calling for the inclusion of Airbus in Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ fleet renewal plan,  a move widely seen as Europe’s strongest diplomatic push in Bangladesh’s aviation sector to date.

“In this regard, I want to clearly call for the inclusion of Airbus in the fleet renewal plans of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, in line with Bangladesh's long-standing assurances of transparency and non-discrimination,” said EU Ambassador Michael Miller, speaking at the European Dialogue on Bangladesh Aviation Growth held at the Franco-German Embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday.

The event was also attended by Ambassador-designate of France Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke, and German Ambassador Dr. Rüdiger Lotz, who echoed calls for a fair and competitive selection process. The European side emphasized that introducing Airbus aircraft alongside Biman’s existing fleet would enhance the airline’s operational flexibility and align with global mixed-fleet strategies.

The remarks come amid an ongoing evaluation by Biman’s Techno-Financial Committee, which is currently reviewing two rival proposals — Airbus’s offer of 10 A350 wide-body and 4 A320neo narrow-body aircraft, and Boeing’s offer of 10 787 Dreamliners and 4 737 MAX jets. After the evaluation, the findings will be submitted to Biman’s Board Purchase Sub-Committee and later to its full Board of Directors.

The EU envoy’s statement follows months of heightened competition between U.S.-based Boeing and Europe’s Airbus for dominance in Bangladesh’s aviation market, which has long been Boeing-heavy.

Dhaka’s recent declaration to buy 25 Boeing aircraft under a trade-tariff deal with the U.S. Trump administration reignited the fierce tug-of-war between global aerospace rivals Airbus and Boeing for control of Bangladesh’s skies.

In his address, Ambassador Miller highlighted Europe’s broader economic ties with Bangladesh, noting that the EU remains the country’s largest export destination with bilateral trade in goods reaching €22.2 billion in 2024. He encouraged Dhaka to apply for GSP+ status to maintain preferential market access after its graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.

“We have done this by providing preferential access to the EU market under the Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative, offering development cooperation and expertise, and supporting both public and private investment under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy,” Miller said.

Describing aviation as a “strategic priority” for the EU’s engagement in Bangladesh, the envoy reaffirmed that the bloc “must have its place at this table” as the South Asian nation positions itself as a future regional aviation hub.