Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Biman Bangladesh Airlines has ordered 11 additional Boeing aircraft as Bangladesh’s national flag carrier moves to expand and modernize its fleet. Boeing and Biman announced the agreement Wednesday in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The order comprises five Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners and six Boeing 737-8 aircraft, according to Boeing.
The latest purchase follows Biman’s order for 14 Boeing aircraft announced in April, bringing the airline’s planned Boeing acquisitions to 25 aircraft this year. The April order included eight 787-10s, two 787-9s and four 737-8s. Reuters reported the April deal at approximately $3.7 billion based on list prices.
Signing ceremony in New York
The agreement was signed between Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Boeing during a ceremony in New York. Rumee A. Hossain, chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing, represented the two organizations at the signing ceremony. Boeing’s official photograph shows Hossain and McMullen in the front row of the ceremony.
The signing was attended by senior Bangladeshi and U.S. officials, reflecting the broader economic and trade context surrounding the aircraft purchase. Among those present were M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, Bangladesh Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism; Humaiun Kobir, State Minister of Foreign Affairs; Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, chairman of the Invest Bangladesh Authority; Madhi Amin, Advisor to the Prime Minister; U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick; and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.
Also pictured at the ceremony were William Kimmitt, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade; Brendan Nelson, Boeing Global senior vice president; Stephanie Pope, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO; S. Paul Kapur, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs; Kaanthi Bhuvanagiri, Boeing sales director for India and South Asia; and Paul Righi, Boeing vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Eurasia, India and South Asia.
Fleet modernization and network expansion
Biman Chairman Rumee A. Hossain described the supplemental agreement as part of the airline’s ongoing fleet-renewal and network-expansion program. “Today’s supplemental agreement is an important step in Biman’s ongoing fleet renewal and network expansion,” Hossain said, adding that the order responds to specific requirements in the airline’s fleet plan. Hossain said Biman aims to develop its network and capabilities to meet the connectivity needs of passengers in Bangladesh, the country’s expatriate community, businesses and the tourism sector.
Boeing said the additional aircraft will strengthen Biman’s existing Boeing fleet. The 737-8 will provide additional range and capacity for the airline’s single-aisle network, while the 787-10 will add capacity alongside Biman’s existing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. Boeing also said the 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX families provide approximately 20% to 25% greater fuel efficiency compared with the aircraft they replace, supporting Biman’s fleet-modernization strategy.
Boeing welcomes additional Biman order
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing, said the additional order reflects Biman’s approach to fleet renewal and capacity growth. “Biman’s follow-on order reflects its strategic approach to fleet renewal and capacity growth, and underscores the strength of our long-standing partnership,” McMullen said. He said the additional 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX aircraft will provide the efficiency and versatility Biman needs as Bangladesh’s international aviation market grows.
Broader Bangladesh-U.S. trade context
The aircraft purchase comes as Bangladesh seeks to strengthen economic and trade ties with the United States. Reuters reported that the latest Boeing purchase expands Biman’s planned orders to 25 aircraft as Dhaka seeks to increase imports from the United States and address a trade imbalance of roughly $6 billion. Reuters also reported that the aircraft order is part of broader efforts to reduce pressure related to U.S. tariffs on Bangladeshi exports.
However, the aircraft agreement itself is a commercial purchase between Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Boeing, rather than a government-to-government contract between Bangladesh and the United States. Government officials attended and celebrated the signing, but Boeing and Biman are the parties to the aircraft purchase.
Biman’s Boeing fleet
Biman currently operates Boeing 787, 777 and 737 Next-Generation aircraft across its international network, serving destinations in the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia and Europe. With the latest order, Biman’s planned Boeing purchases announced in 2026 total 25 aircraft, comprising both wide-body Dreamliners and 737 MAX aircraft. The carrier says the fleet expansion is intended to support modernization, increase capacity and strengthen its international network.
