Biman Bangladesh Airlines has placed a firm order for 10 Airbus aircraft. The deal covers four A350-900 widebody jets and six A321neos and raises the carrier’s order pipeline to 35 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing.
Both aircraft will be new types for Biman. The airline plans to deploy the A350-900 on long-haul routes to North America, Europe and the Middle East. The A321neo will serve regional and medium-haul markets.
The order completes negotiations that had continued for several months. Biman had initially been expected to sign an Airbus agreement by the end of August, but the deadline passed while discussions continued.
Airbus had also revised the size and composition of its proposal. Earlier discussions involved as many as 14 aircraft, including 10 A350s, before the package was reduced to the four A350-900s and six A321neos now ordered.
35 new aircraft from Airbus and Boeing
The agreement comes less than two weeks after Biman ordered another five Boeing 787-10s and six 737 MAX 8s, completing a 25-aircraft commitment with the US manufacturer.
Biman had already ordered eight 787-10s, two 787-9s and four 737 MAX 8s in April. Its Boeing backlog now comprises 15 Dreamliners and 10 737 MAX 8s.
With the Airbus contract, Biman has 35 new aircraft in its acquisition pipeline: 19 widebodies and 16 narrowbodies. The program is large compared with its current fleet of 19 aircraft.
The airline currently relies entirely on Boeing models for its jet operations. Its fleet includes four 777-300ERs, four 787-8s, two 787-9s and four 737-800s, supplemented by five Dash 8-400 turboprops.
The Airbus order will therefore introduce a second manufacturer to Biman's jet fleet. The A350 will operate alongside the airline's expanding 787 fleet, while the A321neo will join the 737 MAX 8 in the narrowbody segment.
Biman currently serves 22 international destinations from Dhaka. Its longest service is to Toronto via Istanbul with the 787-9, and Airbus said the A350's range will allow the carrier to pursue its plans for North American routes.
Local reports have indicated that the first Airbus deliveries are expected in the next decade. Biman and Airbus did not disclose the value of the firm order in Wednesday's announcement.
