[🇧🇩] Aviation Industry in Bangladesh

[Saif]

Russia keen to have Dhaka-Moscow direct air connectivity

Russia on Thursday showed keen interest to establish direct air-connectivity between Dhaka and Moscow to enhance people-to-people ties between two friendly countries.....

www.newagebd.net

Russia keen to have Dhaka-Moscow direct air connectivity
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka | Published: 22:11, Mar 14,2024

Russia on Thursday showed keen interest to establish direct air-connectivity between Dhaka and Moscow to enhance people-to-people ties between two friendly countries.

Russian ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy expressed this interest during a meeting with Bangladesh civil aviation and tourism minister Muhammad Faruk Khan held at the secretariat in Dhaka, said a press release.


Pointing out that every year a huge number of Russian tourists visit different countries, Mantytskiy said that Russian visitors would prefer to visit Bangladesh above other Russian neighbours if direct air connectivity was established between the two nations.

Besides, Mantytskiy said that his country also wanted to be a partner in the development journey of Bangladesh’s growing aviation industry and was ready to extend any type of assistance including technical support in this regard.

In reply, minister Faruk Khan welcomed the Russian keenness of establishing direct Dhaka-Moscow air connectivity as well as Russian partnership in Bangladesh’s aviation industries.


He said that decision would be made regarding the direct air connectivity after holding discussion between respective authorities of both countries by maintaining the international rules and regulations.

The minister said that his ministry was working to make Bangladesh an aviation hub as the country was situated in the international aviation route.

Moreover, he said that in the last 15 years, Bangladesh made enormous development in the aviation sector and achieved the international standard.​

 

[Saif]

Germany keen to provide technical support in aviation sector

Germany has shown its interest in providing technical assistance to Bangladesh to accelerate the government’s ‘Smart Bangladesh’ initiative. German Ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Troster expressed his interest when he met Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muham

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Germany keen to provide technical support in aviation sector​

FE ONLINE DESK

Published :​

Mar 20, 2024 20:18

Updated :​

Mar 20, 2024 20:18

Germany has shown its interest in providing technical assistance to Bangladesh to accelerate the government’s ‘Smart Bangladesh’ initiative.

German Ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Troster expressed his interest when he met Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan at his office at the secretariat on Wednesday, BSS reports citing a press release.

The ambassador said his country is working with Bangladesh in economic, technical, training, and various sectors.

Achim said that Germany would provide technical support for the development of Bangladesh's growing aviation industry.

“We are also planning to provide training to create skilled technical staff in this sector. We are keen to act as the 'Modern Logistics Partner' of the Aviation Industry of Bangladesh to accelerate the steps taken by the government to build 'Smart Bangladesh',” he added.

The aviation and tourism minister mentioned that the growth of Bangladesh's aviation industry has more than doubled in the last 15 years.

The present government is working seriously for the proper growth and development of this industry, he added.

He appreciated Germany’s proposal to provide technical assistance in the aviation sector of Bangladesh.

“In this regard, the concerned departments will take actions according to the law and discussion,” he said.​

 

[Saif]

Fly Dhaka set to become country’s newest private airline: CEO

A new airline, Fly Dhaka Airlines, is set to take off by November this year and become the country’s 12th private airline operator to enter the industry in the past 25 years

www.thedailystar.net

Fly Dhaka set to become country’s newest private airline: CEO​

A new airline, Fly Dhaka Airlines, is set to take off by November this year and become the country's 12th private airline operator to enter the industry in the past 25 years.

"We are all set to spread wings of Fly Dhaka as a new airline by November this year," Lt General (retd) Molla Fazle Akbar, chief executive officer of Fly Dhaka Airlines, told The Daily Star.

"Prioritising safe travel coupled with affordability, the airline has already secured its aircraft and is actively addressing various pertinent matters pertaining to the acquisition of the Air Operator's Certificate (AOC)," Fazle Akbar also said.

The airline is advancing through the personnel recruitment process, he added.

"Our aim is not only to establish a robust presence in the domestic market but also to extend our reach to the global arena," he also said. "Towards this end, negotiations with a giant Asian airline is already underway."

The airline plans to commencing operations on domestic routes with ATR 72-600 model aircraft.

Subsequently, for international services, Fly Dhaka Airlines intends to induct Airbus/Boeing aircraft, thereby ensuring safety, efficiency and reliability in its global operations.

Anisul Islam Mahmud, a Jatiya Party lawmaker and a businessman, is the owner of the airlines.

As per the rules, the airlines will get permission to operate flights on international routes after operating flights on domestic routes for at least one year.

In the last 25 years, at least eight private airlines were forced to cease their operation for cash crunch, the latest being Regent Airways in 2022.

With Fly Dhaka coming into operation, the total number of private airlines operating in the country will be four. The three other airlines are Novo Air, US-Bangla Airlines and Air Astra.​

 

[Bilal9]

Biman dreams of flying farther, buying 26 new aircraft by 2034

In view of a surge in international air travel and competition from foreign airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the country's national carrier, is all set to execute a decade-long ambitious plan that involves purchasing at least 26 new aircraft and route expansion.

Biman's fleet would grow from existing 21 to 47 aircraft by 2034, marking a 122% growth, according to the new plan recently approved by the Biman Board of Directors.

The fleet will see the addition of at least eight aircraft with 300 seats, six with 270 seats, six with 160 seats, four with 70 seats, and one with 400 seats.
With their addition, Biman's seating capacity will more than double, exceeding the current capacity of 5,000 passengers per day.

Aligned with the government's objective of transforming Bangladesh into an aviation hub, Biman wants to broaden its reach through new aircraft on new routes, including Australia and New York.

Shafiul Azim, managing director and CEO of Biman, told TBS, "The 10-year fleet and route expansion plan has been under consideration for several years. It was approved during the 300th board meeting, held recently. The plan can be revised at any time."

"We plan to add two to three aircraft into the fleet annually. The routes are already mapped out, we just need to initiate operations," he said.

Biman sources indicate that the company is actively assessing proposals from both Airbus and Boeing for acquiring new aircraft. This suggests a move towards fleet diversification for Biman, which is currently dominated by Boeing aircraft.

The national flag carrier has primarily decided to buy 10 Airbus A350 widebody planes, including two cargo freighters, from Airbus, following a proposal from the European manufacturing giant. It also formed a techno-financial committee on 5 March to evaluate the purchase offer.

Following Airbus, its global competitor Boeing has also presented its new proposal to the airline.

"The major advantage lies in avoiding upfront cash payments for aircraft purchases. Previously, we made regular instalments for purchased aircraft. Even with new purchases, it remains the same," said Shafiul Azim.

The Biman MD stressed the necessity of acquiring new aircraft to remain competitive in the aviation market. "While we sit idle, neighboring countries like India, Thailand, and Vietnam are rapidly expanding their fleets, targeting our market," he said.

Currently, local airlines, including Biman, secure only 20%–25% of the aviation sector's business in the country, with foreign carriers dominating the remaining share.

With a notable surge in international passenger numbers, the national carrier, along with several other local airlines, is gearing up to harness the business opportunities by competing with foreign carriers.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, the country's airports witnessed a record-breaking 17.4 million air passengers last year, with a majority being international travelers, indicating a nearly 23.4% year-on-year growth.

The count of international passengers, encompassing both Bangladeshis and foreign nationals, surged by approximately 2.67 million in 2023, reflecting a 30% increase from the previous year and a 37% rise compared to the pre-COVID-19 period.

Sector insiders attributed the growth of air travel to and from Bangladesh to factors such as record labor exports, rising educational migration, outbound medical and leisure tourism, and business travel.

A massive Tk32,000 crore investment in airport development, including a brand new third terminal for the Dhaka airport, is creating exciting opportunities for Biman.

This infrastructure boom is fueling the airline's ambitions to expand its network across South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and even Europe.

New routes coming

Currently, Biman operates flights on 22 international routes covering three continents: North America, Europe, and Asia. The airline is now preparing to start operations in Australia.

Biman MD Shafiul Azim said, "Dhaka to Vietnam/Korea via Narita, a city on the eastern outskirts of Tokyo, Japan, could be a new route. Dhaka-Indonesia-Sydney is being considered as a new route, with preparations already in progress for a route to New York."

He further mentioned plans to expand routes in the future, including destinations like Male, Sydney, Kunming, Yangon, and New York. Additionally, arrangements are being made for code-sharing with Bahrain.

Code sharing is a marketing arrangement in which an airline places its designator code on a flight operated by another airline, and sells tickets for that flight.

Over the past two years, Biman initiated flight operations to Toronto in Canada, Narita in Japan, and Guangzhou in China. A direct flight to Rome, Italy, commenced on 27 March.

From configuration to cost of Airbus aircraft

The Airbus A220, featuring a capacity of 100-150 seats and a 2-3 economy configuration, was engineered to offer a wide body experience. It comes in two variations, each with distinct list prices.

According to Simple Flying, an international aviation news portal, the smaller A220-100 is estimated to cost around $81 million, whereas the larger and more sought-after A220-300 is priced at $91.5 million.

The Airbus A320 family of aircraft are best suited for short to medium-haul flights and can carry between 100 and 240 passengers. They are designed to compete against the Boeing 737 series in the commercial aircraft market.

At list price, the A320ceo is priced at $101 million, while the A320neo is listed at $110.6 million.

The smallest and rarest of the Airbus A320 family, the A318, is also the cheapest of Airbus' offerings. The plane, known as the Baby Bus, has a list price of $77.5 million.

Biman MD Shafiul Azim said there is a global standard practice for airline acquisitions. Aircraft are typically not purchased outright with cash; instead, regular instalments are made, particularly for those acquired from Boeing.

Azim said financing is arranged through a bank, emphasizing that this arrangement differs from a conventional loan. Both the bank and the aircraft manufacturing company are parties to the agreement.

"Currently, we are managing the instalments for our existing aircraft. Last year, Biman settled full instalments for two aircraft," he added.

 

[Bilal9]