US-Bangla Airlines has announced a major expansion plan in the country’s private aviation sector. The company said it is working on adding 21 new aircraft to its fleet by December 2027, with the goal of operating flights to 30 international destinations in 20 countries.
US-Bangla Airlines Managing Director Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun presented the plan at the ‘Meet the Press’ event organized in Cox’s Bazar on Sunday (July 19).
He said that US-Bangla, which started its journey by operating domestic flights on the Jessore route in 2014, has now become one of the largest private airlines in the country. Currently, the company has 25 modern aircraft in its fleet. These include 3 Airbus A330-300, 9 Boeing 737-800 and ATR 72-600 aircraft. These aircraft are operating regular flights to 6 domestic destinations in the country and 14 international destinations in 10 countries. The company operates about 100 domestic and international flights every day.
21 new aircraft to be added to fleet
According to the plan, 21 new Boeing aircraft will be added to US-Bangla’s fleet by 2027. This will include 15 Boeing 737-8 Max and 6 Boeing 737-800NG. The company claims that this is one of the largest fleet expansion programs in the private aviation sector in Bangladesh. These new generation aircraft will be fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly and based on advanced technology.
New international destinations
Along with the fleet expansion, there are plans to expand international routes. The list of new destinations includes Kuwait, Bahrain, Madinah, Dammam, Kathmandu, Colombo, Hong Kong, Johor Bahru and Penang in Malaysia. Through this, the aim is to connect Bangladesh more effectively with the global trade, tourism and communication system.
Emphasis on safety and service
US-Bangla said its corporate philosophy is based on safety, service excellence, operational efficiency and sustainable growth. It cited the implementation of the promise of 15-minute baggage delivery on international flights as an important passenger service initiative.
The company also said that they are the first private airline in Bangladesh to achieve international accreditation from IATA and IOSA, which is international recognition of their operational capabilities and safety standards.
Calls for increasing market share of domestic airlines
The managing director of US-Bangla said that currently, domestic airlines have only 25 percent market share on international routes, while the remaining 75 percent is occupied by foreign airlines. He commented that increasing the capacity of domestic airlines will not only save foreign exchange, but also strengthen the national economy.