Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Wednesday signed an agreement with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus to acquire 10 aircraft, taking the national flag carrier’s planned new-aircraft pipeline to 35.

The agreement covers four Airbus A350-900 widebody aircraft and six A321neo narrowbody jets.

Biman Chairman Rumee A Hossain and President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia Jürgen Westermeier signed the agreement at a Dhaka hotel in the evening.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat attended the ceremony.

Millat urged Airbus to deliver at least one aircraft during FY2026-27 as the government seeks to bring forward the delivery schedule.

Only a day earlier, Millat had said Bangladesh wanted Airbus deliveries to begin before 2030.

With the Airbus agreement, Biman is now pursuing one of the largest fleet expansion programmes in its history.

The deal comes shortly after Biman expanded its planned Boeing acquisitions to 25 aircraft, meaning the airline now has 35 new aircraft in its acquisition programme against a current fleet of 19.

The planned purchases comprise 19 widebody and 16 narrowbody aircraft from the two manufacturers.

Most of Biman’s current fleet comprises Boeing jets, alongside Dash 8 turboprops. The addition of Airbus aircraft will therefore also move Biman towards a mixed Boeing-Airbus fleet.

The expansion is intended to increase capacity on existing routes and support new long-haul and regional services.

Biman signed its first Boeing agreement on April 30 for 14 aircraft comprising eight 787-10 Dreamliners, two 787-9s and four 737-8s.

A supplementary agreement signed in New York on September 23 added another five 787-10s and six 737-8s.

Under the existing Boeing delivery schedule, the first aircraft is due in November 2031, with deliveries continuing through 2035. The government has also asked Boeing to bring forward at least one delivery.

Aviation Minister Millat, in his speech, sought European Union support for the early removal of the EU’s High-Risk Cargo and Mail designation on cargo originating from Bangladesh.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, France and Spain were also present at the signing ceremony.