Boeing is continuing efforts to secure an aircraft order from Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG, Dhaka), according to The Dhaka Tribune. The outlet says the manufacturer is pushing on with its sales campaign despite the Bangladeshi government and the state-owned airline saying Airbus was likely to get the order.
Biman is looking to buy ten aircraft in order to open new routes and compete more effectively against existing carriers flying in and out of Bangladesh. Speaking to ch-aviation earlier this year, Bangladesh's Civil Aviation Minister, Mahbub Ali, said Airbus aircraft were under active consideration, potentially breaking Boeing's stranglehold on the Biman jet fleet.
Further boosting Airbus's chances, Biman secured funding to purchase ten Airbus aircraft in May 2023 after signing a joint communique with the United Kingdom, allowing it to access funds via the UK Export Finance scheme. The scheme gives Bangladesh access to long-term credit on easy deals.
“The decision to launch several new routes, including Japan and the United States, has already been taken," said Biman CEO Shafiul Azim at the time. "The procurement of the Airbus fleet is part of our plans for the region." In September, French President Emmanuel Macron disclosed that Bangladesh had committed to buy eight passenger aircraft and two freighters from Airbus.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines is a longtime Boeing operator. Its present fleet includes six B737-800s, four B777-300ERs, four B787-8s, two B787-9s, and five DHC-8-Q400s. It formerly operated six A310-300s, retiring the last two in 2016.
The newspaper reports that the US government is applying "pressure" on Bangladesh to stick with Boeing. That manufacturer has reportedly offered Biman B787 variants plus B777-200Fs. Boeing has allegedly offered to sell its aircraft at a deep discount and told Biman officials that the true costs of acquiring Airbus types are underquoted, saying the airline will need to retrain and certify its crews, including ground crews and engineers, and acquire new simulators.
Seven months after the flurry of pro-Airbus reports, Biman is yet to place an order. In October, Bangladesh's foreign minister confirmed to local media outlets that Boeing continued to campaign hard. More recently, Azim said the offers from both manufacturers "remained on the table." He said the airline would decide based on price, support, and operating efficiencies.
