French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday that Bangladesh has committed to purchasing ten aircraft from Airbus, marking the country's first deal with the European plane manufacturer and a shift in its fleet dependence from Boeing. French officials stated that the deal for the wide-body A350 aircraft is in its final stages and is made with the national airline Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
In a statement to the media following a meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Macron said, "Thank you for your trust in European aircraft manufacturing. The purchase of ten Airbus A350 planes is significant.”
Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which was established 51 years ago, has a fleet of over 20 aircraft, most of which are Boeing, with more than half being wide-body.
Bangladesh's State Minister for Civil Aviation, Mahbub Ali, mentioned that the initial order will be for two Airbus aircraft. "We have requested ten planes to come in phases. The technical committee is currently assessing them. These aircraft will be utilized on both new and existing routes."
The order for additional wide-body aircraft by Biman Bangladesh Airlines comes at a time when travel is experiencing a strong rebound post the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline operates direct flights to 20 destinations worldwide, including the UK, Malaysia, Thailand, and Canada.
