Bangladesh Moves to Expand Air Fleet with Boeing Aircraft Purchase

(MENAFN) Bangladesh’s newly formed government has decided to acquire 14 aircraft from US manufacturer Boeing, according to an official statement on Wednesday.

A deal is expected to be finalized in April, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat told reporters after a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, where the matter was discussed.

The government also announced plans to restart direct flights to Tokyo in June, a route that had been suspended during the tenure of the previous interim administration.

Officials said discussions are also ongoing with European aerospace company Airbus as part of longer-term plans to operate a mixed aircraft fleet. In the meantime, authorities are seeking to quickly expand capacity, including through short-term leasing arrangements to add new aircraft within two to three months.

Earlier decisions under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus had also pointed toward Boeing procurement, reversing a previous move by the Awami League administration of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which had favored Airbus purchases.

The latest plan is aimed at addressing a shortage in the fleet of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national carrier. The total cost of the Boeing acquisition has been estimated at around 350 billion taka (approximately $2.8 billion).

Biman currently operates about 19 aircraft on international routes, while estimates suggest it needs between 30 and 35 aircraft to meet rising demand and support planned expansion efforts.

A meeting on the Boeing purchase was also held earlier on Wednesday at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

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