DHAKA, 02 January (H.S.): Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BBA), the national flag carrier, has given in-principle approval Tuesday to procure 14 aircraft from American multinational Boeing, opting against rival Airbus in a strategic fleet expansion and modernization drive.

The package comprises eight wide-body Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for long-haul international routes, and four narrow-body Boeing 737-8 MAX jets suited for regional and domestic operations.

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The decision emerged from BBA's annual general meeting chaired by board chairman and aviation and tourism adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, where the techno-finance committee's recommendations secured provisional nod pending price negotiations and contractual terms.

BBA's public relations general manager, Bosra Islam, confirmed the move aligns with interim government pledges to trim trade deficits with the United States through strategic Boeing purchases. Sources indicate final signatures await formality clearances, fortifying aviation ties between Dhaka and Boeing's Seattle headquarters.

Wide-bodies for global reach, narrow for domestics

The Boeing 787 Dreamliners, celebrated for fuel efficiency and passenger comfort on extended flights, will bolster BBA's capacity on transcontinental paths to Europe, North America, and beyond.

Complementing them, the 737-8 MAX—optimized for shorter hops with advanced avionics—targets high-frequency domestic routes and Southeast Asian neighbors, replacing aging fleets amid rising passenger demand.

Bosra Islam hailed the acquisition as a pivotal modernization stride, poised to elevate service standards and economic contributions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar