Bangladesh finalizes Boeing order for 14 jets, signaling fleet upgrade shift
Bangladesh locked in its biggest-ever aircraft purchase, choosing 14 Boeing jets over Airbus as it seeks fuel savings, trade relief and a faster fleet upgrade.
Bangladesh finalized a $3.7 billion Boeing order for 14 aircraft on Thursday, a purchase that doubles as a fleet modernization plan and a geopolitical signal. The deal gives Biman Bangladesh Airlines eight 787-10s, two 787-9s and four 737-8 MAX aircraft, cementing Boeing’s hold on one of South Asia’s most closely watched airline orders.
The signing in Dhaka came at Hotel InterContinental, where Biman Managing Director and CEO Kaizer Sohel Ahmed signed for the flag carrier and Boeing Vice President Paul Righi signed for the manufacturer. State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, Prime Minister’s Adviser M. Humayun Kabir, Biman Board Chairman Rumee A. Hossain and U.S. Ambassador Brent T. Christensen also addressed the ceremony, underscoring how the agreement reached beyond commercial aviation into diplomacy and trade.
Boeing said the package is Biman’s largest-ever order and marks the first time the airline will operate the full 787 family. It also gives Biman its first 737 MAX aircraft. Boeing said the 787 and 737 MAX families offer 20% to 25% better fuel use than the aircraft they replace, a key advantage for an airline trying to manage costs while expanding routes. The planes will be delivered in phases, although no timetable was announced.
The switch is especially notable because Bangladesh had previously approved plans to buy 10 Airbus jets under Sheikh Hasina’s government, but no final agreement was signed before that administration fell in the 2024 mass uprising. The interim government then moved toward Boeing. That change reflects more than a preference for one manufacturer over another. Reuters said Bangladesh is trying to ease pressure from a trade imbalance with the United States of roughly $6 billion and reduce exposure to possible tariff increases that could hit its export-driven garment sector.
The order also fits into a broader expansion of Bangladesh’s aviation infrastructure, including a new terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Biman said the new fuel-efficient aircraft will modernize the fleet, improve operational performance, extend the international network and add passenger and cargo capacity. Boeing said the 787-10s will be used on high-demand Middle East routes, the 787-9s on long-haul service to Europe and North America, and the 737-8s on regional links to the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia.
Biman currently operates 21 aircraft, including four 787-9s, four 787-8s, four 777-300ERs, six 737-800s and five Dash 8-400s. AirInsight reported that Biman’s board approved the purchase in early January 2026 and that the four 737 MAX 8s will replace four 737-800s, a sign that the carrier is not just expanding, but reshaping its fleet around Western suppliers and long-haul growth.
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