Biman Bangladesh Airlines is working to expand its international routes to enhance air connectivity for Bangladeshi passengers, Managing Director and CEO of the national flag carrier, Shafiul Azim, has said. “We have taken initiatives to operate flights on some important routes across the globe including to New York, Chennai, Bengaluru, Los Angeles, Rome, Male, and Guangzhou.” The Biman CEO shared the information during an exclusive interview with UNB “Gradually we will be able to start flights on these routes. We are evaluating and working on how to start flights on each of these routes within the shortest possible time,” he added. Biman currently operates regular flights to 19 destinations around the world. “We have a fleet of 21 aircraft including Dreamliners. Ten new aircraft are being purchased from Airbus,” he added. New aircraft from Airbus will facilitate the expansion of routes and will open up new directions in coordination with other countries, the Biman CEO hoped. Read: Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Gulf Air forge strategic partnership for enhanced travel connectivity With the addition of the new aircraft, the number of flights on popular routes can also be increased, which would in turn create a more competitive market and help in reducing ticket prices. The Biman CEO said, “We are working on expanding our network not only in Asia but also in western countries, especially in Europe.” Besides, Biman has already done everything to launch direct flights from Dhaka to New York, he said. He further said some formal work is going on with Civil Aviation, Federal Aviation Authority and their Department of Transport. If everything goes well, all activities regarding flight operations on the new routes, including New York, are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. He said that Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Gulf Air have recently started a partnership – set to revolutionise travel between Bangladesh and the Gulf region. As a result, passengers can travel from Dhaka to Bahrain and Bahrain to Dhaka with onward connection to Chattogram and Sylhet via both airlines (Biman and Gulf Air). Read: Biman Bangladesh Airlines launches online travel date change service In addition, it will benefit both airlines through enhanced operational efficiency and shared expertise in the aviation industry, he added. “We are starting flights to Narita (Tokyo), Japan from September 1. Chennai is also being considered as a destination. Apart from this, we are going to resume flights to Guangzhou in China by the middle of September. Besides, we are trying to establish communication and code sharing with other countries through Narita in Japan,” the Biman CEO said. Regarding the launch of flights to Japan, he said that Bangladesh has very good bilateral relations with Japan, and they have investments here. “We are launching a direct Dhaka-Narita (Tokyo) flight from September 1, 2023 and it is a major achievement for us,” the Biman Bangladesh Airlines CEO said, adding, “Bangladeshi students are going to study in Japan and Japanese businessmen are coming here. Besides, many people travel to Japan from neighbouring countries. We have a good air network with the West compared to the East. Through Dhaka-Narita (Tokyo) direct flights, a new horizon will open,” CEO Azim added. Besides, Biman will take initiative for improvement of the Bangladesh-Japan tourism sector. Read more: 2 flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Friday cancelled At the same time, “we are moving forward with marketing strategies so that passengers from neighbouring countries can travel to and from Japan via Dhaka,” the Biman Bangladesh Airlines CEO said.

US-Bangla Airlines will resume flights on Dhaka-Chennai-Dhaka route from Sunday maintaining all health protocols under air bubble agreement with India. US-Bangla flights will leave Dhaka for Chennai at 10:30 am on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday and will land Chennai at 12:40 pm. Read US-Bangla Airlines to operate regular flights to Muscat from Sept 1 On the same day, the flights will leave Chennai at 1:30 pm and land at Dhaka at 4:30 pm, said a press release. The one-way fare on the route(including surcharge and taxes) has been fixed at Tk 12,399 while the fare will be Tk 19,893 with return facility. Read: US-Bangla Airlines enters 8th year

US-Bangla Airlines will operate flights from Jashore to Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, and from Saidpur to Chattogram. The private carrier will start operating flights from Jashore and Saidpur to Chattogram on September 30 and from Jashore to Cox's Bazar on October 1. The airline will initially operate flights from Jashore to Chattogram three days a week, flying from Jashore to Chattogram Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 9:15am. It will leave Chattogram's Hazrat Shah Amanat International Airport for Jashore at 5:10pm on the same day. Read US-Bangla Airlines to operate regular flights to Muscat from Sept 1 Also, the private carrier will run flights to Chattogram three days a week from Saidpur, the only airport in the north. It will fly from Saidpur to Chattogram Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 10:45am. The airline will leave Chattogram for Saidpur at 12:35pm on the same day. In addition, US-Bangla will operate four-days-a-week flights from Jashore to Cox's Bazar. Initially, it will leave Jashore for Cox's Bazar Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1.45pm; and it will leave Cox's Bazar for Jashore at 3.25pm. Read: US-Bangla Airlines enters 8th year The minimum fare from Jashore to Chattogram, including all taxes and surcharges, is Tk6,000, and the return fare is Tk12,000. In addition, the minimum fare from Jashore to Cox's Bazar is Tk6,500, and the return fare is Tk13,000. The minimum fare from Saidpur to Chattogram is Tk6,200, and the return fare is Tk12,400. Also, US-Bangla plans to operate flights from Saidpur to Cox's Bazar, Sylhet to Chattogram and Cox's Bazar soon. Read NOVOAIR to operate six flights daily to Cox’s Bazar US-Bangla owns 14 aircraft, including four Boeing 737-800s, six brand new ATR 72-600s and three Dash 8-Q400s, according to a press release.