Biman Bangladesh Airlines

History of Biman Bangladesh Airlines

Biman was created as Bangladesh Biman Corporation by Presidential Order No. 126 of 4 January 1972, weeks after the country's independence. Domestic flights began about a month later with a DC-3, and two second-hand Fokker F27s soon took over services to Chittagong and Sylhet. International flying began on 4 March 1972 with an aircraft chartered from British Caledonian.

For more than three decades Biman operated as a state corporation, building a network shaped by Bangladesh's large migrant and diaspora communities. In July 2007 it was converted into a public limited company, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited, although the government kept 100% of the shares.

Today Biman flies a mostly Boeing fleet, including 787 Dreamliners, 777s and 737s, alongside Dash 8 turboprops for domestic routes. In 2026 it signed two Boeing agreements, in April and September, for 25 aircraft, and in October agreed to buy ten Airbus jets, a pipeline of 35 aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled mainly from 2031.

Fleet

Aircraft types in service as of 2026

Biman operated 19 aircraft in October 2026, according to Bangladeshi press reports of its Airbus signing. Its long-haul and regional fleet is mostly Boeing, including 787-8s, 787-9s, 777s and 737s. On order are 25 Boeing aircraft (two 787-9s, 13 787-10s and ten 737-8s) and ten Airbus aircraft (four A350-900s and six A321neos). Boeing deliveries are due from November 2031, and some older aircraft will retire as new ones arrive.

Network and hubs

Biman's hub is Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, with domestic services to cities including Chittagong and Sylhet. Its international network is built around demand from Bangladeshi migrant workers, pilgrims and diaspora travellers, with routes to the Gulf and Saudi Arabia, Asia and Europe, including Frankfurt.

Press reports in 2026 put Biman's share of international passenger traffic in Bangladesh at a little over 20%, with foreign airlines carrying the rest.