Aircraft Orders & Deliveries
Biman Bangladesh Orders 14 Boeing Jets, Cancels Airbus Deal Amid Trade Pressures
Biman Bangladesh Airlines approves purchase of 14 Boeing jets, shifting from Airbus due to operational and geopolitical pressures including US tariffs.
This article summarizes reporting by bdnews24.com.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has officially approved the acquisition of 14 new aircraft from U.S. manufacturer Boeing, marking a significant reversal of previous fleet modernization plans that favored European rival Airbus. According to reporting by bdnews24.com, the decision was finalized during a board meeting on December 30, 2025, and made public on January 1, 2026.
The move represents a major shift in Bangladesh’s aviation strategy, effectively scrapping a 2023 commitment to purchase 10 Airbus A350s. While airline officials have cited operational benefits such as fleet commonality, reports indicate that the decision is heavily influenced by geopolitical factors, specifically, the need to mitigate severe trade tariffs imposed by the United States in mid-2025.
This procurement plan, which includes a mix of wide-body Dreamliners and narrow-body MAX jets, aims to standardize the national carrier’s fleet while addressing urgent economic diplomacy needs. As detailed by bdnews24.com, the proposal has been approved in principle and now moves to a negotiation committee to finalize pricing.
The approved acquisition plan details a specific mix of aircraft designed to bolster Biman’s long-haul and regional capabilities. According to the board’s decision, the 14 aircraft include:
This selection aligns seamlessly with Biman’s existing infrastructure. The airline currently operates a fleet dominated by Boeing, including 777-300ERs, 787-8s, 787-9s, and 737-800s. By sticking with a single manufacturer, the carrier avoids the substantial costs associated with establishing new maintenance facilities, spare parts inventories, and pilot training programs that an Airbus introduction would have required.
While operational efficiency provides a strong business case, the timing of the order suggests external pressures played a decisive role. In July 2025, the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump imposed a 35% tariff on Bangladeshi exports. This policy, aimed at countries with trade surpluses with the U.S., posed a catastrophic threat to Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector, which relies on the U.S. as its largest single export market.
Reporting suggests that the interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, viewed a significant purchase from Boeing as a necessary diplomatic tool. By narrowing the trade deficit through high-value capital imports like aircraft, officials hope to negotiate relief from the punitive tariffs.
The decision effectively nullifies a commitment made in September 2023 during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Dhaka. At that time, the administration of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had pledged to purchase 10 Airbus A350 aircraft to diversify the fleet and strengthen ties with the European Union. However, following political upheaval in August 2024 and the subsequent change in government, priorities shifted toward stabilizing relations with Washington. The pivot back to Boeing has not gone unnoticed by European partners. In November 2025, ambassadors from the UK, France, Germany, and the EU reportedly lobbied the interim government to honor the Airbus commitment. German Ambassador Rüdiger Lotz explicitly warned that excluding Airbus could negatively impact Bangladesh’s future trade relations with Europe.
“Ambassadors… warned that excluding Airbus could negatively impact Bangladesh’s trade relations with Europe.”
, Summary of diplomatic briefings
The European diplomats emphasized “fair competition” and noted that the decision could influence Bangladesh’s application for GSP+ (Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus) status, a critical trade privilege the country seeks after graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
From an aviation management perspective, Biman’s decision to stick with Boeing is operationally sound. Operating a mixed fleet of small numbers, such as introducing just 10 A350s alongside a dominant Boeing fleet, often creates “diseconomies of scale” due to duplicated training and maintenance requirements. However, the geopolitical stakes here are unusually high.
While the Boeing order may offer a short-term shield against U.S. protectionism, it risks alienating the European Union, another vital trade partner. Biman has effectively become a chess piece in a larger trade dispute. The challenge for the airline’s management will be ensuring that the technical terms of the deal, pricing and delivery slots, are not compromised by the political urgency to sign the contract.
What aircraft is Biman Bangladesh Airlines buying? Why did Biman cancel the Airbus deal? When was this decision made?
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Pivots to Boeing with 14-Jet Order, Citing Strategic and Economic Pressures
Breakdown of the Boeing Order
Geopolitical Drivers: The “Trade War” Context
Tariffs and Economic Diplomacy
Reversing the Airbus Pledge
Diplomatic Fallout and European Warnings
AirPro News Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Biman has approved the purchase of 14 Boeing aircraft: eight 787-10 Dreamliners, two 787-9 Dreamliners, and four 737-8 (MAX) jets.
The decision was driven by a combination of fleet commonality benefits (sticking to one manufacturer reduces costs) and urgent geopolitical pressure to reduce the trade deficit with the U.S. following the imposition of 35% tariffs on Bangladeshi goods.
The Biman board approved the proposal on December 30, 2025, and the decision was publicly reported on January 1, 2026.Sources
Photo Credit: Biman Bangladesh Airlines