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French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet has called for a “level playing field” for Airbus as Biman Bangladesh Airlines considers expanding its fleet, saying talks between the national flag carrier and the European aircraft manufacturer are progressing positively.
Speaking at a Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) Talk at the National Press Club on Tuesday, the ambassador said Biman had previously expressed interest in Airbus aircraft following technical assessments and discussions on its fleet requirements.
He said fleet diversification would give Biman greater flexibility by allowing it to assess the operational advantages of both Airbus and Boeing aircraft instead of relying on a single manufacturer.
Séré-Charlet also pointed to Airbus aircraft capable of operating certain long-haul routes directly from Dhaka as part of the technical reasons behind Biman’s interest.
He said Boeing had also secured business with Biman, with some aircraft scheduled for delivery in the 2030s, but stressed that discussions between Biman and Airbus were continuing.
The ambassador said the negotiations were taking time as both sides wanted to complete the process carefully and avoid mistakes that could force them to restart it.
He declined to disclose details of the technical discussions, saying the eventual contract would be between Biman and Airbus, rather than the French government.
“I will certainly insist on a level playing field,” he said.
Bangladesh has indicated that it intends to maintain a mixed fleet, with Biman preparing to expand its fleet with both Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Recent reports have also indicated that an Airbus package is under consideration.
