Biman Bangladesh Airlines orders ten Airbus aircraft

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has placed a firm order with Airbus for ten aircraft, the airline and the manufacturer said. Four are A350-900 widebodies; six are A321neo single-aisle jets.

The carrier, based in Dhaka, says the planes will support a planned expansion of its international network. That plan includes long-haul routes to North America and strengthened service to existing destinations in Europe and the Middle East. Biman also expects the aircraft to support air cargo operations, which it links to growth in the country's external trade.

Rumee A. Hossain, chairman of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines board, called the expansion measured and reasonable for the size of the market the carrier serves. He cited a population of 200 million, a fast-growing travel market and an overseas diaspora of 15 million people, concentrated notably in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Airbus said the two models are operationally complementary for the Asian carrier. Neither side disclosed a value for the order or a delivery schedule.