Biman Bangladesh Airlines Orders 11 More Boeing Jets: 5 787-10 Dreamliners And 6 737-8 MAX Aircraft

Dhaka, September 25, 2026 — Boeing and Biman Bangladesh Airlines announced today that the national carrier placed an order for 11 more 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX airplanes to grow and renew its fleet. The purchase, which includes five 787-10 and six 737-8 jets, builds on the airline's largest-ever order for fourteen 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX airplanes earlier this year, according to a statement from Boeing.

✈ The supplemental order represents a significant commitment by Bangladesh's national flag carrier to modernise its fleet and expand its international network — reinforcing Bangladesh's growing role in global aviation.

📊 Order Breakdown

The 11-aircraft order includes:

• ✈ 5 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners — the largest variant of the 787 family, designed for long-haul international routes.
• ✈ 6 Boeing 737-8 MAX jets — the medium-range variant of the 737 MAX family, designed for regional and short-haul routes.

This order is supplemental to the 14-aircraft order placed earlier in 2026 — meaning Biman's total Boeing commitments in 2026 reach 25 aircraft, valued at several billion dollars.

💬 Biman Chairman's Statement

💬 Rumee A Hossain, chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, said:

💬 “Today's supplemental agreement is an important step in Biman's ongoing fleet renewal and network expansion. This order responds to specific requirements in our fleet plan. Our team's working relationship with Boeing over the years has given us confidence in the delivery and support arrangements.”

💬 “As the national flag carrier, we remain committed to developing Biman's network and capabilities in a manner that responds to the connectivity needs of the people of Bangladesh, our expatriate community, business and tourism. This agreement is one part of a broader, carefully considered plan to strengthen the country's international connectivity in the years ahead,” he added.

💬 Boeing Executive's Statement

💬 Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing, said: “Biman's follow-on order reflects its strategic approach to fleet renewal and capacity growth, and underscores the strength of our long-standing partnership.”

💬 “These additional 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX airplanes will deliver the efficiency, versatility and reliability Biman needs to support Bangladesh's growing role in global aviation.”

🏛 The Signing Ceremony Attendees

The signing ceremony was attended by:

• 💼 Brad McMullen — Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing.
• 💼 Rumee A. Hossain — Chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
• 💼 William Kimmitt — Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, United States.
• 💼 Brendan Nelson — Boeing Global senior vice president.
• 💼 Howard Lutnick — U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
• 💼 Stephanie Pope — Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO.
• 💼 Rashiduzzaman Millat — Bangladesh Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism.
• 💼 S. Paul Kapur — Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs.
• 💼 Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun — chairman of Invest Bangladesh Authority.
• 💼 Kaanthi Bhuvanagiri — Boeing sales director for India and South Asia.
• 💼 Paul Righi — Boeing vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Eurasia, India and South Asia.

The presence of high-level US and Bangladeshi officials — including the US Secretary of Commerce — underscores the strategic significance of this order in the broader Bangladesh-US trade relationship.

💼 Biman's Current Fleet

Biman currently operates 787, 777, and 737 Next-Generation airplanes across its international network, connecting Bangladesh with major hubs in:

• 🇦🇪 The Middle East — including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jeddah, Riyadh.
• 🇲🇾 South and Southeast Asia — including Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Yangon.
• 🇪🇺 Europe — including London, Manchester, Rome.

✈ Why The Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner Matters

The Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner is the largest variant of the 787 family. Key features:

• 🚀 Range: approximately 6,430 nautical miles — suitable for long-haul routes.
• 🚀 Capacity: typically 250-330 passengers in two-class configuration.
• 🚀 Fuel efficiency: approximately 25% more fuel-efficient than previous-generation aircraft.
• 🚀 Passenger experience: larger windows, lower cabin altitude, higher humidity for comfort.
• 🚀 Biman's existing 787 fleet: multiple 787-9s already in service.

The 787-10 will allow Biman to:

• ✈ Operate long-haul routes to Europe and North America.
• ✈ Increase capacity on high-density Middle East routes.
• ✈ Improve fuel efficiency and reduce operating costs.
• ✈ Enhance passenger experience with modern cabin features.

✈ Why The Boeing 737-8 MAX Matters

The Boeing 737-8 MAX is the medium-range variant of the 737 MAX family. Key features:

• 🚀 Range: approximately 3,500 nautical miles — suitable for regional routes.
• 🚀 Capacity: typically 150-200 passengers in two-class configuration.
• 🚀 Fuel efficiency: approximately 20% more fuel-efficient than previous-generation 737s.
• 🚀 Operational flexibility: suitable for both domestic and regional international routes.

The 737-8 MAX will allow Biman to:

• ✈ Operate regional routes to South and Southeast Asia.
• ✈ Improve economics on domestic routes including Chattogram, Sylhet, Cox's Bazar.
• ✈ Right-size aircraft for moderate-demand routes.

💰 Financial Implications

The order has significant financial implications:

• 💵 List price of 787-10: approximately $332 million per aircraft.
• 💵 List price of 737-8: approximately $121 million per aircraft.
• 💵 Total list value (this order): approximately $2.43 billion.
• 💵 Actual transaction value: typically discounted by 30-50% from list price.
• 💵 Cumulative 2026 Boeing commitments: approximately $5-7 billion (across the two 2026 orders).

This represents a major US export to Bangladesh — supporting US jobs in aerospace manufacturing while strengthening Bangladesh's aviation infrastructure.

🌏 Strategic Context: Bangladesh-US Trade Relations

The Biman Boeing order comes at a strategic moment in Bangladesh-US trade relations:

• 🇺🇸 Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) — signed February 9, 2026, includes commitments for Bangladesh to purchase US civilian aircraft.
• 🇺🇸 US exports to Bangladesh (FY25): $2.72 billion — with aircraft as a key category.
• 🇺🇸 Biman's previous Boeing orders in 2026: 14 aircraft for $3.7 billion (April).
• 🇺🇸 US-Bangla Airlines (July 2026): 21 Boeing aircraft for $1.5 billion.
• 🇺🇸 Total Boeing orders by Bangladeshi carriers in 2026: approximately $7.45 billion.

The presence of US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick at the signing ceremony signals that this order is being positioned as a successful example of US-Bangladesh trade cooperation.

💼 Wider Implications For Bangladesh's Aviation Sector

The Biman Boeing order reinforces Bangladesh's broader aviation sector expansion:

• 🛬 Biman fleet modernisation — strengthening the national carrier's competitive position.
• 🛬 Capacity expansion — supporting Bangladesh's growing passenger and cargo traffic.
• 🛬 Tourism promotion — enabling more international tourist arrivals.
• 🛬 Expatriate connectivity — supporting Bangladesh's 13-15 million expatriates with more flight options.
• 🛬 Trade facilitation — expanding belly cargo capacity for Bangladesh's exports.
• 🛬 Third Terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport — set to significantly expand Dhaka's international capacity, complementing the fleet expansion.

📜 Looking Ahead

The 11 Boeing aircraft ordered today will be delivered over the next several years — with deliveries typically spanning 3-7 years from order placement. Biman will need to:

• 📝 Plan pilot training for the new aircraft types.
• 📝 Build maintenance capability for 787-10 and 737-8.
• 📝 Secure financing for the aircraft purchases.
• 📝 Plan route network expansion to utilise the additional capacity.
• 📝 Recruit cabin crew for the expanded fleet.

For Bangladesh's broader economy, the Biman Boeing order represents a strategic investment in aviation infrastructure — positioning the country to capture growing demand for air travel and supporting the country's broader connectivity, trade, and tourism ambitions in the years ahead.