Two Foreign Airlines Want to Operate Flights to Bangladesh from May

Two Foreign Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and Air China, want to start operating flights to Bangladesh. The two airlines will start flights from next May after getting the final approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB). CAAB has also asked Biman Bangladesh Airlines to be prepared to provide ground-handling services at Shahjalal Airport.

Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mofidur Rahman said in this context, “Ethiopian Airlines and Air China have sought permission to operate flights in Dhaka. Arrangements are being made so that the two airlines can start flights to Dhaka from next month. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has been informed about this. Besides, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been informed to provide ground handling services.”

It is learned that Ethiopian Airlines is currently operating three weekly non-scheduled cargo flights offline from Dhaka. Ethiopian Airlines is preparing to start passenger flights between Addis Ababa and Dhaka from next month. Apart from this, there are plans to operate direct cargo flights in future. Ethiopian Airlines operates with 147 aircraft. It is Africa’s largest airline in terms of passenger carrying, fleet size and revenue. It is ranked as the fourth largest airline in the world.

Sohag Hossain, Managing Director of Rhythm Group and General Sales Agent (GSA) of Ethiopian Airlines Airlines in Bangladesh, said, “Preparations are being made to start Addis Ababa-Dhaka-Addis Ababa direct flights by the end of next month subject to the permission of CAAB. Flights to Dhaka will be operated by Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Initially, five flights will be operated a week.”

It is to be noted that after a series of diplomatic efforts between the two countries, the civil aviation authorities of Ethiopia and Bangladesh signed this air service agreement on December 6 last year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Air China, China’s main flag carrier, is going to operate flights on Bangladesh and China’s Beijing route for the first time this  May. Mainly businessmen and students from Bangladesh regularly travel to China.

According to sources, Air China will initially operate 2 flights a week on this route. Air China has informed the Biman Flight Catering Center (BFCC) about providing in-flight meals.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines are currently operating regular flights on the Guangzhou route from Bangladesh. Besides, China Eastern and China Southern Airlines are also taking Bangladeshis to China.

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