GMG Airlines resumes Flights to Delhi, Dubai

GMG Airlines, the leading private sector airline of the country, recommenced thrice weekly flights to New Delhi and Dubai on January 21. Erfan Haque, General Mana-ger Sales, earlier made the announcement of resumption at a reception to honour travel agents at The Westin Dhaka on January 19. Ajith Weera-sekera, Head of Global Sales also spoke at the reception, which was attended by members of travel trade. The airline will be reintroducing thrice a week flights to Bangkok and Singapore on February 10. From March 1, the airline will be flying to Doha thrice weekly and adding three more flights to Dubai, taking the number to six flights a week, he added.GMG Airlines hopes to link Dhaka with Karachi, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia within the Summer Schedule, Shahab Sattar said, adding services to existing destinations will be further improved.GMG Airlines recently added a MD-83 aircraft to its fleet. With this, the airlines present fleet consists of three Dash-8s, two MD-82s and one MD-83. An Airbus A320 is expected to join the fleet in the middle of February. The Top Ten Agents who were honoured on the occasion are: Islamia Overseas Ltd, Air Trip International Ltd, East West Travels and Tours (Pvt) Ltd, Al-Gazi Travels Ltd, Hajee Air Travels, City-com Inter-national Travel Agency, Kazi Air Inter-national (Pvt) Ltd, DBH Inter-national (Pvt) Ltd, Oasis Air Services, and Beacon Travel International Ltd. Source: The Independent 03rd-Feb-2009

Direct flights between Dhaka, Istanbul likely soon

Huge potential of trade, investment between Bangladesh, Turkey exists Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, Adviser for the Ministries of Commerce and Education, who was on a high-profile visit to Turkey to reinforce trade relations with Turkey, met TUSKON (one of the apex forums of Turkish businessmen based in Istanbul) in Istanbul on August 29 last.
The Adviser appreciated the economic growth of Turkey in the recent years. He forthrightly discussed the future potential of trade and investment between Bangladesh and Turkey. He stressed that people of both countries can easily the sure the historic brotherly ties for future trade and investment.
Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman said that that in near future Bangladesh-Turkey trade volume should be US$1 billion. In this connection the Commerce Adviser underscored the importance of direct flights between Istanbul and Dhaka to facilitate easy traffic of business delegation.
TUSKON President Rizanur Meral and present businessman appreciated the initiative of establishing direct flights between two countries.
During the meeting, Turkish businessmen expressed their interest to invest in the textile sector in Bangladesh. They informed that due to high cost of labour and energy in Turkey they were looking for alternative country to relocate their textile industries and in all consideration Bangladesh could be one of the best destinations for such relocation.
He highly appreciated their interest in Bangladesh and informed that other than cheap labour, Bangladesh offers tax holidays and other infrastructure supports for successful investment in the country.
Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman elucidated the potential market of 150 million people in Bangladesh to the Turkish businessmen. He stated that apart from textile, RMG, pharmaceuticals, jute and jute products, energy, leather and ceramic sectors could be the potential sectors for further trade and investment between two countries.
The Adviser suggested that during the 3rd session of the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting between Bangladesh and Turkey in the first half of 2009, businessman from both countries should highlight their experiences and suggestions for boosting the trade relations.
Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman invited the TUSKON delegation to visit Bangladesh at their earliest convenience.
Earlier, the Adviser met Dr Ternel Kotil, President and CEO of Turkish Airlines in Istanbul. They discussed about the potential of direct fights between Istanbul and Dhaka.
President and CEO of Turkish Airlines Dr Kotil informed that after some procedural formalities Turkish Airlines would be operative to Dhaka by April 2009.
Dr Rahman was also interviewed by the TRT (Turkish National TV Channel in Istanbul), which had been widely broadcasted in Turkish electronic media.
Source: The New Nation Dated: 02-09-2008

Kingfisher Airlines goes International with London

Kingfisher Airlines goes international with London (XFN-ASIA) Kingfisher Airlines has announced it will launch its first international flight from the high-tech southern city of Bangalore to London next month.
The daily non-stop Airbus A330-220 service to Heathrow airport by Kingfisher, owned by liquor baron Vijay Mallya, will take to the skies 03-Sept-08.
Kingfisher chairman Mallya said,"We will set new standards in international travel." The privately-owned airline last year bought out low-cost Indian carrier Deccan Aviation giving it the right to fly aboard. Under Indian rules, carriers less than five years old cannot fly internationally. Kingfisher was founded three years ago while Deccan is five years old.
On its own, Kingfisher would only have been eligible to fly abroad in 2010. The decision to add overseas destinations is expected to heat up rivalry with India's largest airline Jet Airways. All India's major airlines have posted big losses due to soaring fuel costs that have driven up fares, reducing passenger traffic. The sector has been hit by a wave of mergers as airlines have sought to cut costs.




Sourece:India Aviation 2008-08-25

Qatar launches daily flights to New York from 25-July-2008

Qatar Airways announced on Monday(25-08-2008) it will start daily non-stop flights to New York from its Doha headquarters on October 26. It will be deploying its new Boeing 777-300 Extended Range aircraft to shave close to three hours off the current 17-hour flying time.

Under new operational schedules, the state-owned carrier said on Monday it will switch its existing six-flights-a week between Doha and the gateway hub of Newark Liberty International Airport to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, stepping up frequency to daily non-stop services to give passengers greater choice.

Source: ArabianBusiness.com Dated: 25-08-2008

Aviana launches Dhaka-Syedpur journey today

The country's fourth private airline Aviana Airways Ltd launches its flights on Dhaka-Syedpur route today (Tuesday), offering reasonable fares aiming to pave the way for foreign investment in the country's northern region, a senior official of the operator said on Monday.
He said Aviana Airways will operate weekly three flights one each on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays on Dhaka - Syedpur route, where no other airlines are operating flights after state carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines cut the destination.
Manager of the Aviana Airways Flight Lieutenant (retd) M Mazharul Islam told the FE Monday that they are starting operation on Dhaka-Syedpur route as there are no flights to the destination. Air connections will help bring foreign investment to the region.
He said special assistant to chief adviser Mahbub Jamil is expected to be on-board the inaugural flight to Syedpur from Dhaka (today) Tuesday.
"We are definitely looking forward to offer quality passenger services at a lower and competitive price. We hope to attract reasonable number of passengers in our flights," he added.
Air ticket for Dhaka-Syedpur route will cost Tk 4495 per person at the initial stage of operation.
The Aviana Airways, starting services from January this year under the brand name of Royal Bengal, has already connected Dhaka with Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Jessore and Sylhet through its flights.
Aviana, operating flights with a Canadian-built Dash 8-100 aircraft, having capacity of 36 passengers, will soon add another aircraft to its fleet with the aim to fly beyond the country's border.
Mr. Islam said: "Hopefully by December this year we will be able to fly to international destinations too."
Aviana Airways, a joint venture of a group of British Bangladeshi professionals and businessmen, has unveiled a new 3000 sq feet regional office in Sylhet. Besides, the corporate office is in Gulshan with sales offices in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Jessore.
"We also have set check-in and sales counters in the major airports of Bangladesh," said Mr. Islam
Aviana Airways is the fourth private airline to compete with the national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines. The others are GMG Airlines, United Airways and Best Aviation.

Source : The Financial Express: Dated 26-08-2008

Biman launches direct flight on Dhaka-London route

Biman Bangladesh Airlines from Monday launched direct flights on Dhaka-London route by DC 10-30 flight, reducing travel times of the passengers.

Now, the flight takes 10 hours and 15 minutes to reach London from Dhaka where as it took 14 hours when Biman operated the flights via Dubai.

Biman runs five flights on Dhaka-London-Dhaka route throughout the week except Thursday and Friday. The flights are 001, 005, 013, 015 and 017.

Sourece : The Daily Star, Dated:20-08-2008

GMG's flight to Saudi Arabia uncertain as Biman won't quit slots - State-owned carrier wants to utilise all frequencies within a short time

GMG Airlines' plans to fly to Saudi Arabia has been blocked by state-owned Biman that has refused to allow the country's largest private carrier to use its idle landing rights to the lucrative Middle East destination.
The move has forced GMG to slash its 2008 turnover forecast by 37 percent to Tk 850 crore from Tk 1,350 crore, with the company warning that rocketing fuel prices may further force it to scale back its targets.
National carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, has the right to land 13 times a week in Saudi Arabia, but has only ten flights a week, leaving three slots idle. Previously the government indicated that it would distribute unused rights to other Bangladeshi carriers.
However, Biman has objected to give up any of its slots, claiming it will use them all later this year by adding additional flights to the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia is an important route as it is the number one destination for Bangladeshi workers.
"It's unfortunate. It would have been easier for us to reach our turnover target if we could fly to Saudi Arabia," said Abdus Sattar, chairman of GMG Airlines, recording a turnover between Tk 60-70 crore a month now.
In 2007 GMG's turnover reached Tk 280 crore.
The GMG chairman said the carrier projected its turnover for 2008 based mainly on two routes, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
“We forecast the turnover based on mainly two new routes, but we have only got one,” he said.
With seven aircraft in its fleet, the oldest private carrier GMG started flights to Dubai in February 2008 as its seventh international destination. But it is yet to bag a good number of passengers because of a poor response in return flights and frequent flight delays due to technical glitches.
The GMG chairman said the route is yet to become profitable.
The airline has downsized its turnover expectation at a time when airlines across the globe are worried about losses due to the consistent surges in fuel prices, hitting close to $140 per barrel, early this week.
In Bangladesh, all five local airlines, including the three new carriers who recently entered the market to exploit a slice of about 7.5 percent growth in air traffic a year, are also in trouble due to fuel price increases, the burden of which has been passed onto the passengers. The airlines apprehended that it might negatively affect passenger flow.
The Saudi routes shared by Biman and Saudi Arabia Airlines, provides Biman with a steady revenue flow at about 2.5-3 lakh passengers, traveling between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.
The national carrier, which had earlier signed a $1.265 billion deal with Boeing for acquiring 8 aircraft, is unwilling to share its prime market on the ground that it would hurt its earning at a time when it is going to strengthen its fleet.
“We want to utilise all our frequencies within a short time,” said a senior official of Biman.
Sattar said, “They would have to wait till September to see whether Biman utilises their slots. If Biman does not utilise their slots at that time, we may get it.”
The carrier now plans to start flights on some new destinations, Karachi, Kuwait, Muscat, Abu Dhabi and Doha, despite problems such as delays and cut in flights.
"We expect an additional Tk 10 crore in monthly turnover by flying on these destinations," the chairman said.
He said GMG would expand its routes after adding a leased aircraft.
Since its inception in 1998, the GMG Airlines initially operated flights only on domestic routes for six years and later got permission to operate on international routes in 2004.

Source: the Daily Star dated 16-08-2008

Best Air's Dhaka-Dubai Route to Start 27th Aug -2008

Best Air, the country's third private airline, is likely to start its Dhaka-Dubai-Dhaka route from 27th-August-2008.

“Initially we will fly on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday,” Best Air director (Marketing and Sales) Farhad Hossain told the news agency by telephone.
For the new Dhaka-Dubai-Dhaka route, the aviation company would take lease 162-seat MD-83, and the aircraft will be available by next week.
Best Air has already got permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to operate flights to Kuala Lumpur.
“After the inauguration of the Dhaka-Dubai route we will go for Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur route via Chittagong three days a week,” Farhad said, adding that there is a possibility of starting Chittagong-Dubai route simultaneously at that time.
Best Air now operates on Dhaka-Bangkok and Dhaka-Colombo-Male routes with its lone Boeing 737-200.

Source: The Daily Star Dated 14-08-2008

Jet Airways to launch Dubai route

Mumbai-based carrier Jet Airways is to launch flights between Dubai and Delhi from 23 August. The route will be operated daily as a direct service between the two cities. The carrier is also planning to launch a Saudi Arabian route later in the year.

Source:AME Info 2008-08-12