US-Bangla Airlines is going to add 21 Boeing aircraft to its fleet through a lease programme worth nearly $1.5 billion, marking one of the largest fleet expansion initiatives in Bangladesh's private aviation sector.

The expansion will include 15 Boeing 737-8 aircraft and six Boeing 737-800s, which will be inducted into the airline's fleet in phases by 2027.

The announcement was made at an event titled “Beyond with Boeing” held at a city hotel on Wednesday.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashiduzzaman Millat attended the event as the chief guest.

In his speech, the state minister said US-Bangla Airlines has grown from a domestic carrier into one of Bangladesh's leading international airlines through its commitment to safety and quality services.

He said the opening of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will increase the airport's annual passenger handling capacity to 2.4 crore, making the airline's fleet expansion a timely move to meet rising demand.

Millat also noted that Biman Bangladesh Airlines is adding 14 new Boeing aircraft to its fleet, saying the combined expansion will strengthen the country's aviation sector and improve travel services for domestic and international passengers.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen described the agreement as a historic milestone for Bangladesh's aviation industry.

The Boeing leasing deal represented not only the expansion of an airline's fleet but also an investment in Bangladesh's future, creating opportunities for economic growth, strengthening regional and international connectivity, supporting tourism and trade, and generating high-quality jobs, he said.

Boeing Vice President Paul Righi said the fleet expansion marks an important milestone for US-Bangla Airlines as it enters the next phase of growth with modern, fuel-efficient aircraft.

US-Bangla Group and US-Bangla Airlines Managing Director Md Abdullah Al Mamun said nearly 70 percent of passengers on Bangladesh's international routes are still carried by foreign airlines.

"The addition of the new aircraft will significantly enhance the capacity of Bangladeshi airlines on international routes and help retain a substantial amount of foreign currency within the country," he said.

Mamun said the airline aims to evolve beyond a successful carrier into a fully integrated global aviation group.

He said the expansion will support international route growth as well as investments in cargo operations, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, flight catering and aviation training to build a comprehensive aviation ecosystem.

According to the airline, the new aircraft will enable increased flight frequencies on existing routes across South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia and the Middle East.

US-Bangla also plans to launch services to several new international destinations, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Colombo, Kathmandu, Johor Bahru, Penang, Kunming, Shenzhen, Beijing, South Korea, Japan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Madinah, Dammam and Salalah.

The airline also announced plans to develop Chattogram and Sylhet as regional international aviation hubs by permanently deploying Boeing aircraft at the two airports and operating direct international flights to destinations in the Middle East and South Asia.

Mamun said sustainable growth of Bangladesh's aviation industry will require new airports, competitive policies, skilled human resources, modern MRO facilities and internationally accredited aviation training centres.

He said US-Bangla has already launched self-financed programmes to train pilots and aircraft engineers. The airline is also establishing an international-standard aviation training centre in Purbachal and developing a modern flight catering facility in Bangladesh.

According to the airline, the fleet expansion will contribute not only to its own growth but also to the development of Bangladesh's private aviation sector, tourism, international trade, employment and foreign exchange earnings.

US-Bangla also said it is planning to add next-generation wide-body aircraft in the future to operate long-haul flights to Europe, North America and Australia.