Biman Bangladesh Issues RFP to Dry Lease Three 787-9s

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to dry lease three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft for six years, a move that signals an accelerated push to expand the flag carrier’s widebody capacity on long-haul routes from 2027.

Six-year dry lease to support fleet and network growth

According to publicly available tender documents and recent industry coverage, the RFP was released in mid-July 2026 and seeks offers for a 72-month dry lease arrangement. Under a dry lease structure, the lessor provides the aircraft without crew, maintenance or insurance, leaving Biman responsible for operations under its own air operator certificate.

Reports indicate that Biman is targeting induction of the 787-9s by January 1, 2027, with some flexibility for deliveries into late February 2027. The timetable suggests the airline aims to have the additional widebody capacity in place ahead of the Northern Hemisphere summer season, when demand for migrant worker traffic and visiting-friends-and-relatives travel typically peaks.

The RFP calls for three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, a stretched variant of the 787 family that offers improved range and capacity compared with the smaller 787-8 already in Biman’s fleet. Industry analysts note that adding more 787s via leasing, rather than direct purchase, allows the carrier to scale up quickly while limiting immediate capital outlay and keeping options open for future fleet renewal decisions.

Market commentary suggests that, given strong global demand for new-generation widebodies, Biman is positioning itself to secure aircraft in a supply-constrained leasing environment. Recent order activity by major lessors for additional 787-9s, aimed at meeting airline demand over the next decade, underscores the competitive landscape in which the Bangladeshi carrier is now seeking capacity.

Target suppliers and aircraft specifications

The RFP invites bids from a broad spectrum of potential suppliers, including airlines, aircraft operators, owners, manufacturers and leasing companies. This wide net reflects the increasingly fluid secondary market for 787-9s, where aircraft may become available through sale-and-leaseback transactions, portfolio trades between lessors or re-marketing as existing leases expire.

Publicly circulated summaries of the tender indicate that Biman is seeking aircraft configured to typical long-haul standards with modern cabins and in-flight entertainment. While detailed technical criteria are contained in the full RFP package, sources familiar with similar widebody tenders suggest that age limits, maintenance status, engine configuration and cabin layout will be central to the evaluation.

For prospective lessors, key considerations are expected to include the remaining useful economic life of the aircraft at lease end, alignment with popular cabin configurations, and residual value prospects in the South Asian and Middle Eastern markets. The 787-9 has become a workhorse for long-haul operators worldwide, which may support interest from global leasing firms with existing portfolios of the type.

The tender timeline includes a deadline in early August 2026 for submission of proposals, allowing Biman only a short window to shortlist bidders, conduct technical and financial evaluations, and move toward contract negotiations. The tight schedule reflects both the lead times required to place and prepare widebody aircraft, and the airline’s ambition to have the jets on the ramp in early 2027.

Strategic rationale within Biman’s long-haul plans

Biman has been gradually reshaping its long-haul strategy in recent years, using its Dreamliner fleet to strengthen services to the Gulf, Southeast Asia, Europe and beyond. Industry observers point out that the addition of three 787-9s would give the airline more flexibility to increase frequencies on trunk routes, open new destinations and improve schedule resilience during peak seasons.

Bangladesh’s large expatriate populations in the Middle East, Europe and North America continue to underpin strong demand for long-haul travel, while growing business links and tourism add higher-yield traffic. Fleet expansion using fuel-efficient twin-engine widebodies is seen as a pragmatic approach to capturing this demand while managing operating costs.

The 787-9, with its extended range and larger payload compared with earlier models, provides opportunities for Biman to consider deeper European markets and potential connections toward North America via one-stop itineraries. Aviation analysts note that securing additional long-range capacity is often a prerequisite for airlines in emerging markets seeking to raise their profile in the global connecting traffic arena.

The RFP also fits into a broader global pattern of carriers turning to sale-and-leaseback deals, operating leases and other financing structures to manage balance sheets while updating fleets with new-generation aircraft. For Biman, a dry lease arrangement offers a defined cost profile over six years and a clearer exit option if market conditions or strategic priorities shift.

Implications for the global 787 leasing market

Biman’s search for three 787-9s comes at a time when both airline and lessor activity around the Dreamliner family remains robust. Recent announcements of sizable new orders by major leasing companies, alongside transaction reports involving sale-and-leaseback deals for 787-9s with European and Asian carriers, point to sustained confidence in the type’s long-term demand profile.

For lessors, Bangladesh represents a growth market anchored by steady outbound labor traffic and increasing inbound tourism. Placing 787-9s with Biman could provide diversified geographic exposure and a foothold in a South Asian market that is often overshadowed by larger neighbors but is seeing rapid aviation growth.

However, competition for available 787-9 frames is expected to be strong, particularly for aircraft with relatively low cycles and modern cabin products. Lessors may weigh the Biman opportunity against alternative placements with larger global airlines or fast-growing low-cost long-haul operators, where perceived credit profiles and network synergies might differ.

Observers also point out that the timing of deliveries into early 2027 will intersect with broader supply chain and production dynamics in the widebody sector. Any constraints in new aircraft output or delays in existing delivery schedules could tighten the pool of suitable aircraft on the lease market, affecting pricing and contractual terms for Biman’s tender.

Next steps and regional competitive context

Once proposals are received and evaluated, Biman is expected to move toward selecting preferred bidders and finalizing lease agreements, a process that typically involves detailed negotiation over monthly rentals, maintenance reserves, return conditions and optional extensions. Travel industry analysts will be watching for indications of how quickly contracts are concluded and when specific delivery dates are locked in.

The outcome of the RFP is likely to influence Biman’s ability to respond to growing competition on key long-haul corridors from carriers based in the Gulf, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Many of these rivals already deploy large 787 or A350 fleets and have been adding capacity into the Bangladeshi market, particularly to serve expatriate communities.

If the lease is successfully concluded and aircraft arrive on schedule, the three additional 787-9s could enable Biman to strengthen its position out of Dhaka by offering more non-stop options and improved connectivity for onward journeys. That, in turn, may have implications for passenger flows through regional hubs, as Bangladeshi travelers weigh direct services against one-stop itineraries via neighboring countries.

For now, the tender underscores both the intensifying competition in South Asia’s long-haul market and the central role that flexible aircraft leasing solutions play in enabling national carriers to keep pace with shifting demand and evolving fleet technologies.