Published : 11 Jun 2025, 06:03 PM
Updated : 28 Aug 2026, 01:22 AM
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus and British aviation giant Menzies Aviation are keen on forging a long-term partnership with Bangladesh.
Airbus Executive Vice President Wouter van Wersch and Menzies Aviation Executive Vice President Charles Wyley outlined their interest during a meeting with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus in London, state news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reports.
Yunus said Bangladesh was willing to listen all offers to modernise the Biman fleet, but would not rush into a decision.
Airbus has identified Bangladesh as a priority country, and is keen to transform the national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines into a profitable enterprise, Van Wersch told the chief advisor.
Van Wersch noted that Airbus, which supplies 800 aircraft annually, has expertise in manufacturing helicopters and fighter jets.
Yunus said, “I am very eager to understand what can be done, what should be done. So, we will listen to you. But don’t expect any decision soon. We have to look at everything in a very fresh way.”
Van Wersch said if Bangladesh decides to add Airbus aircraft to the Biman fleet, 85 per cent of the funding could be arranged through Export Credit Agency (ECA) financing.
The European aviation company has been trying to sell jets to Biman Bangaldesh Airlines since the Awami League's rule.
Wyley said that Menzies was willing to compete with others in providing ground handling and air cargo services to the third terminal of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, using its experience of providing similar services to more than 300 airports in at least 65 countries.
“We would like to support Bangladeshi airports besides your national carrier,” Wyley told the chief advisor.
He also said the company would make Dhaka a training hub for its 65,000 employees around the world if it was handed the task of ground handling.
“We are a proven British company, and we would like to offer our support,” said Wyley.
