Runway expansion was completed this year to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft. Terminal works are ongoing and scheduled to be completed next June (a year behind original schedule) which will provide two jetbridges for easy boarding/deboarding of aircraft.

Current length of Osmani Internationbal Airport, Sylhet: 10,500 ft.
Current length of Shah Amanat Airport, Chittagong: 10,000 ft.
Current length of Zia International Airport, Dhaka: 10,500 ft.

However, ZYL still lacks proper runway lighting and an Instrument Landing System which makes it difficult for aircraft to land in poor visibility and will no doubt disrupt schedules during winter months.

also isn't the runway at Sylhet Airport always under water during rainy season?

However, ZYL still lacks proper runway lighting and an Instrument Landing System which makes it difficult for aircraft to land in poor visibility and will no doubt disrupt schedules during winter months.

That would restrict most of the flight operations to day light hours. I believe, the ILS at the three aiports should be at least CAT II, not CAT I. If they can afford it, then CAT IIIA which makes it an all weather airport. It is time for GOB to enter into public-private ventures to buil, upgrade and operate the airporst in Bangladesh. Without that, the country shall never have the financial resources for airport development in the scale that is now warranted.

New airline takes to the skies from the sands of the UAE
A major new airline will rise from the sands of the United Arab Emirates and take to the skies by the end of this year, it was announced at the Dubai Air Show today.
Dr. Issam Khairallah, President of the new operator, MIDEX Airlines, said he received the licence for cargo and passenger operations earlier this year.

He explained that MIDEX will first start with cargo operations to six major destinations that include Orly in France, Mumbai and Kochin in India, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Istanbul in Turkey and Beirut in Lebanon.
More destinations will be added later.

also isn't the runway at Sylhet Airport always under water during rainy season?

It gets waterlogged under heavy monsoon rains but it's been OK for the past couple of years.

That would restrict most of the flight operations to day light hours. I believe, the ILS at the three aiports should be at least CAT II, not CAT I. If they can afford it, then CAT IIIA which makes it an all weather airport. It is time for GOB to enter into public-private ventures to buil, upgrade and operate the airporst in Bangladesh. Without that, the country shall never have the financial resources for airport development in the scale that is now warranted.

Well...currently it's Biman that run all the airports - although the CAAB is responsible for the maintenance and upgrades. I don't know how that works now following Biman's privatisation but it would certainly be of benefit to the country to separate the airline from the ground handling.

The last attempted PPP (Shah Amanat) failed abysmally due to Biman holding all the strings and eventually earlier this year, Thai Airways International pulled out of the deal.

Dhaka Zia International Airport

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport155.jpg

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CAAB asks Padma to set up jet refuelling [at Sylhet Airport] (http://www.southasianmedia.net/cnn.cfm?id=438981&category=Services&Country=BANGLADESH)

DHAKA: The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh has requested the Padma Oil Company Ltd to set up a jet refuelling facility at the Osmani International Airport in Sylhet for refuelling planes using the airport.

Inside sources said that the CAAB, in a letter sent on October 25 to the managing director of Padma Oil, requested him to set up a refuelling station at the third largest international airport in the country as the number of local and foreign airlines using the airport has been gradually increasing.

According to CAAB sources, the airport has to accommodate around 18 local and international flights of different airlines a week, and the officials believe that the number will increase further in the coming years.

‘Many airlines are now operating flights from the Osmani airport to local and foreign destinations and so a refuelling facility at the airport is essential to cater to their demand,’ said the CAAB’s letter.

The letter urged the state-owned Padma Oil to take an initiative in this regard as early as possible as the number of airlines, particularly those
operating international flights, will increase as the government has adopted an open sky policy for three months up to December for the three international airports in the country to expedite the carrying of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia and countries in the Middle East.

‘Because of the government’s open sky policy, many foreign airlines have expressed interest in flying from Osmani, and the government has also allotted more frequencies to the airlines,’ said an official of the CAAB.

Moreover, the airport will be ready to handle wide-bodied planes by June this year as expansion and strengthening of the runway at Osmani is nearing completion.

Osmani airport is located five kilometres north-east of Sylhet city, and is the country’s third international airport.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines and two local private airlines, GMG Airlines and United Airways, currently operate domestic flights from the airport. A new company, the Royal Bengal Airline, is also expected to launch domestic flights to the airport by the end of 2007. Several foreign airlines are also expected to operate flights soon to various international routes from the airport.

The majority of the passengers using the airport are expatriate Bangladeshis of Sylheti origin and their descendants living in the United Kingdom.

Zia International Airport (Dhaka) Bangladesh
It is the main airport of the Bangladesh but still now it has no any website belongs to it to show details of the airport as other International Airports.
GOB or CAAB not affort to design website for its airports to serve the users of these airports.

The following link is pretty upto date with flight info.

http://flightinfobd.com/index.html

Zia International Airport (Dhaka) Bangladesh
It is the main airport of the Bangladesh but still now it has no any website belongs to it to show details of the airport as other International Airports.
GOB or CAAB not affort to design website for its airports to serve the users of these airports.

CAAB has a website that provides basic information on the three main airports. If there was a third party operator of ZIA, I'm sure you'd have found ZIA on the web, by now.

http://www.caab.gov.bd

The following link is pretty upto date with flight info.

http://flightinfobd.com/index.html

this website is not useful at professional level what do you think brothers. In other hand i visited those web side several times to observing what's going on my motherland according to attarcting visitors.

there are www.flightstats.com give more details about flight arriving and departure time with flight numbers and its original but i wish the GOB or ZIA had to have their own to serve. I like to see this because in BD flights always delayeing or cancelling several times or reschedule the flights especially Bangladesh Biman. So people can get banifits from browsing the inter-net to know exact possition of floght to save time and money to back and forth to the airport.

Wow I just checked that link, there are up to 6 daily flights between Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur. I hope Air Asia will start its service soon !

Yesterday 9th of November 2007 Bangladesh Biman Landed on Osmani International Airport at 9 am coming from London via Dubai.

Biman's UK route is LHR - DXB - DAC - ZYL - DAC

Are you saying the routing has changed (to LHR - DXB - ZYL - DAC)? This would certainly make more sense from a cost perspective, so I'm not sure why they don't do it this way.

Following on from this (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=16242858)thread (Int'l airports warn Biman of boycott):

Biman gets conditional slot at Heathrow until Oct '08 (http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=11122)

The British Airways authorities have agreed to continue slots to Biman Bangladesh Airlines for Heathrow Airport until October 2008 on condition that Biman maintains at least 80 percent of its flight schedule.

Biman has also received assurance of continued slots--prescribed timing for arrival and departure of flights--from Riyadh, Dubai and Rome international airports.

The assurance for slots at Heathrow Airport came after a top Biman official's visit to the UK last month and a series of meetings with the British Airways slot coordination committee.

Biman authorities also contacted other airport authorities regarding slots for those airports.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the national airlines has gone to Toronto in Canada to attend a five-day conference of International Air Transport Association (IATA) that began on Friday. The conference will focus on coordination of flight schedules of various airlines.

On the sidelines of the conference, different airlines will mutually fix their flight schedules at one-to-one meetings, sources said.

Biman's repeated failure to maintain flight schedules to and from different international airports drew criticism. Airport authorities in different countries also warned of imposing fines on Biman for further failure.

Qatar Airways is not far away from becoming the first airline in the world to fly its airplanes using natural gas, according to its senior executive.
http://www.zawya.com/Story
Can Bangladesh Biman take steps like this to reduce its fuel cost.

Biman's UK route is LHR - DXB - DAC - ZYL - DAC

Are you saying the routing has changed (to LHR - DXB - ZYL - DAC)? This would certainly make more sense from a cost perspective, so I'm not sure why they don't do it this way.

According to your question I read in a news paper that GOB has not signed yet for operating flights between Sylhet and London. As far as I know at the begining the operated a few flights directly from London to Sylhet via Dubai but later they rerouted it according to British airways remaind GOB that it is not included in the agreement between two countries.

Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority has signed an agreement with Ras Al Khaimah (UAE) for Air transport between BD and the Ras Al Khaimah (UAE) yester 12.11.2007 here in the Ras AL Khaima.
the emirate of ras al khaimah going to start a new airline soon (RAK AIRWAYS) from its International Airport. It is another chance for Bangladeshi Communities who are living in the emirate to traveling through Ras Al khaimah airport with out travelling far to Sharjah or Dubai to catch the Plane.

Just thought I'd let you know that RAK Airways is not a new startup, infact they started operations in 2006.

Please refer to: Wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAK_Airways)

RAK Airways is the future national airline of Ras Al Khaimah, one of the four in United Arab Emirates. The airline is planning to launch operations early in 2007 with two Boeing 757-200 aircraft. [1]

The airline is also in talks with Indian Low-cost Carrier SpiceJet for a possible interline agreement between them. RAK airways eventually plans to fly to destinations in Iran also.

They are planned to start but they are not success to do it in that particular time.


The airline may start charter and scheduled services from its Ras al Khaimah base as early as April 2007 using a Boeing 737-300 and a Boeing 757-200 aircraft [2]

As of May 2007, beginning of operation has been delayed and chief executive refuses to speculate whether the airline would even launch in 2007. (source Gulf News)

The first 757 is ready, with RAK livery: http://www.airteamimages.com/39259.html

http://www.bimanair.com/
http://www.gmgairlines.com/
http://www.uabdl.com/
http://www.royalbengalairline.com/

http://www.bimanair.com/
http://www.gmgairlines.com/
http://www.uabdl.com/
http://www.royalbengalairline.com/

I know I am a bit off topic. But..... only site that has any usability is Royal Bengal. None of the others have dynamic pages. People use the sites for finding things od buying things - not so much to know about the company. It's not difficult at all to find good Web Developers in Dhaka. People like search engines, on-line booking kind of stuff.

First Hajj flights from Sylhet Nov 29, 30 (http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=11928)

National carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate, for the first time, two direct hajj flights from Sylhet on November 29 and 30.

The flights by DC-10 aircraft will carry 301 pilgrims each. The return flights are scheduled on January 10 and 11, official sources said yesterday.

However, about 2200 pilgrims from Sylhet are expected to perform Hajj this year, an official of Hajj Association of Bangladesh said yesterday. Of them about 2100 will travel by biman.

After the recent development works including strengthening and extension of the runway, a wide-bodied DC-10 with 275 passengers from Dubai landed at Osmani International Airport at 11:25am Friday. Dropping 168 passengers, the craft departed for Dhaka at 12:25pm.

Passengers, including several bound for London and other destinations boarded the return flight from Sylhet.

Some development works of Osmani International Airport under a Tk 138 crore project are yet to be complete.

However, with completion of the works on the runway, operation of fully loaded wide-bodied crafts like DC-10 and Boeing-747 is now possible at the airport.

Earlier on March 12 of 2006, operation of a wide-bodied aircraft was inaugurated on London-Dubai-Sylhet route the authorities later stopped it on the grounds of insufficient area and unfit runway.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has offered a special air fare for the passengers of Bangladesh to London, Milan and New York routes, says a press release.

Under this offer, one way ticket for London will cost US$ 460, $525 for Milan and $ 699 for New York. This offer will be valid until December 15, 2007. Passengers must fly within December 24, 2007 with the ticked purchased under this offer.

K Ashraful Kabir, country manager of Etihad Airways Bangladesh, said, “Etihad Airways always tries to give the best services to its guests.”

^^ That is VERY expensive ! That's just one-way ticket, excluding tax. And Etihad is already considered as " budget " airline among all Gulf carriers.

I can't wait to land in Zia Airport next month /

^^ That is VERY expensive ! That's just one-way ticket, excluding tax. And Etihad is already considered as " budget " airline among all Gulf carriers.

I can't wait to land in Zia Airport next month /

Let us know before you go and when you get back...hope your trip is pleasant and hope you bring back some visual goodies for us! ZIA is nothing special but OK for a country at our stage of development...facilities have gotten a lot better over the last ten years or so. The lines can be long and slow but be patient...it all works.

More budget airlines on the horizon

The government is finally considering giving the go ahead to more budget airlines to operate on both international and domestic routes, in an effort to tackle the current flight crisis.

The decision is expected to increase capacity reduce travel costs for out-bound workers, especially of those traveling to the Middle Eastern countries.

http://www.thedailystar.net/photos/2007-11-20__bus03.jpg
An Air Arabia plane in Chittagong. Air Arabia one of the first budget carriers to operate in Bangladesh.

A 10-memebr committee to examine the viability of permitting low-cost carriers from the Zia International Air Port will submit its final report within a couple of weeks, according to ministry sources.

"Introducing more budget carriers will help workers fly to their destinations at affordable costs, said Abdul Matin Chowdhury, secretary of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.

Country's manpower exports has increased all time high in the year 2007. About 5 lakh workers left the country as of October 2007, against 3.8 lakh during the same period of 2006, according to the ministry.

Sources said several international and local airlines have already showed keen interest to launch budget carriers In the lucrative market contributed by the record manpower export.

"Besides international airlines, the government is also considering few domestic carriers for the permit," according to the source.

Earlier in September, thousands of workers had to postpone their scheduled travel amid flight shortages leading the government to follow open sky policy.

The Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) have been repeatedly urging the government to permit low-cost carriers since then.

Air Arabia, the Sharjah based low cost airline started its operation in Bangladesh from June 2007 with 162-seated C-20 aircraft. The airline enjoys huge customer demand after its debut and continuously increased its flight from 2 to 5 per week.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=12369

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When Bangladesh will have this kind of Airbus.......................

Bangladeshi Airlines

http://www5.0zz0.com/2007/11/19/21/93231698.jpg

http://www5.0zz0.com/2007/11/19/21/48419756
[img]http://www5.0zz0.com/2007/11/19/21/35472877
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Mamun, you need to close each line with "/img" enclosed in square brackets.

I did the first one.

edit

edit - sorry did it again

...........When Bangladesh will have this kind of Airbus.......................

:lol:Are these A350 pictures?? I like it when people have dreams..... and ofcourse act to achieve what they want. At this time all I can say is - Inshallah.

Indonesia's budget carrier pioneer Lion Air said today it was preparing funds to acquire shares in airlines in six Asian countries as part of the company's ambition to boost its global presence.
Lion Air will buy stakes in airlines in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Bangladesh and South Korea at the amount permitted under their respective laws.

"We have been collecting funds from internal and external sources. The budget ranges from US$50 million to US$100 million per airline," Lion Air spokesman Hasyim Alhabsi told reporters here.

He said the regional expansion was the consequence of the purchase of 120 brand new Boeing 737-900ERs for deliveries in the next five years.

"We cannot put that many airplanes in Indonesia alone," he added.

The nearest aim was to buy airlines in Thailand, Vietnam and Bangladesh, he said without elaborating.

The acquired airline will bear the company's name, so they change to Vietnam Lion Air or Thai Lion Air, he said.

Lion Air now serves 120 flights with up to 35,000 passengers per day on domestic routes. It plans to fly Hong Kong in December and already opened a representative office.

14/11/2007 english.eastday.com

Yemen Airways resumed its service to Dhaka Airport when Bangladesh facing dificulties to send labors to the foriegn countries.
Dhaka/Sann'a/Dubai and other gulf countries airports as Abu Dhabi/Manama/Doha/Riyadh/Jeddah etc.

More budget airlines on the horizon

http://www.thedailystar.net/photos/2007-11-20__bus03.jpg
An Air Arabia plane in Chittagong. Air Arabia one of the first budget carriers to operate in Bangladesh.

Air Arabia, the Sharjah based low cost airline started its operation in Bangladesh from June 2007 with 162-seated C-20 aircraft. The airline enjoys huge customer demand after its debut and continuously increased its flight from 2 to 5 per week.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=12369

Air Arabia does not have any aircraft such as C-20. As a matter of fact, I am not aware of any passenger aircraft in existence by C-20. The aircraft shown in the pics is Airbus A320.

From New Age (www.newagebd.com)

Nov 21, 2007

Boeing offers fresh package proposal to Biman
Mustafizur Rahman

The US-based aeroplane manufacturer Boeing has offered a fresh proposal to sell its new-generation aircraft to the Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited, now facing severe shortage of aircraft.
A Boeing team is expected to arrive in Dhaka on November 27 to make a presentation before the Biman board of directors on the proposal, said a senior Biman official.
The presentation scheduled for November 28 or 29 will include a comprehensive overview of the Boeing 777, 787 and 737 new generation series with specific references to the products in consideration of Biman’s market environment, said the official.
The Biman managing director, MA Momen, also chief executive officer of the concern, on Monday told New Age they welcomed the proposal.
‘Boeing will make a presentation on its package proposal. We welcome this kind of proposal as Biman is now facing shortage of aircraft,’ he said.
Bangladesh government will need to give a sovereign guarantee as per the package proposal which includes supply of 12 Boeing series aircraft by 2015, arrangement of loan, training and other logistics, according to sources.
‘The Biman authorities should not lose this opportunity of buying new generation aircraft from Boeing which has made a lucrative offer for us. We could have survived the global competition if Biman had accepted a similar proposal of Boeing in 2003,’ the Bangladesh Airline Pilots’ Association president, SM Helal, told New Age on Monday.
He said there was no other option for Biman but to procure new-generation aircraft to salvage the national carrier which needed to suspend operation of lights on about six international routes because of fleet crisis and expensive maintenance of the old DC 10.
The interim cabinet on September 19 approved the proposal to declare the Bangladesh sky open to designated airlines for three months to cope with the huge rush of passengers effective from October 1.
The civil aviation and tourism ministry placed the proposal at the meeting of the council of advisers with the chief adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, in the chair, in the face of the rush of passengers, most of whom are workers in the Middle East and Malaysia, and Biman’s failure to operate adequate number of flights to carry them.
It has been reported that thousands of workers are losing their jobs in the Middle Eastern countries and in Malaysia and they cannot reach their destinations in time because of the crisis of air tickets, affecting the manpower export sector which earns about six billion dollars a year.
Because of the incapacity of Biman to operate sufficient number of flights, the authorities concerned decided to offer additional frequencies to other local and foreign airlines, especially those operating flights to and from the Middle East and Malaysia.
Biman, which was turned into a public limited company on July 23 in the face of perennial losses and mismanagement, still cannot manage the flight schedules properly for shortage of aircraft, causing sufferings to passengers, said sources.
Biman is now struggling to survive with three DC 10s and three Airbuses, out a total of 12 aircraft in its fleet, operating flights on 20 international routes, besides two F 28s, carrying passengers on four domestic routes.

GMG Airlines are to launch daily flights to Dubai on January 8 and will increase its service to KL from 9x weekly to 14x weekly effective Jan 8. Kathmandu wll be increased from 4x weekly to daily and Delhi from 3x to 5x. Kolkata, currently being served 18x weekly will be unchanged. The added fleet is not being disclosed but it will be brand new aircraft. This can be verified by the flight schedules on amadues.

Wow flights from Dhaka to Delhi, KL,and Dubai has increased significanetly over the last 4 years.
Dhaka-Delhi (Used to be only 3 flights a week by BG)
Now- 3x-Air India and 3x-GMG Airlines soon to be 5x a week = Daily Flights to Delhi
Dhaka-Dubai (Used to be 7x a week by Emirates, I am intentionally not mentioning BG because of their frail services)
Now- 14x-Emirates and 7x a week by GMG from January 7th) = 21x/week average 3 flights a day
Dhaka-KL- Used to be 6x a week by Malaysian Airlines
Now- 12x/week by Malaysian Airlines and 9x a week by GMG Airlines soon to be 14x/week for GMG Airlines.
Interesting right, I believe soon Dhaka Airport will be a regional hub for the small nations like Bhutan and Nepal don't you agree

RAK Airways set to take off to Beirut

RAK Airways – the UAE’s fourth national carrier – today announced that its inaugural flight will take off to Beirut on Thursday 29th November. The full-service airline also announced the launch of its flights to Colombo, Sofia and Dhaka.

Launched under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince & Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. RAK Airways also plans to unveil more destinations, including cities in India, Nepal, Qatar and Tanzania, within three months as part of an ambitious growth strategy.

Ticket sales for the first four destinations start today and tickets can be obtained from authorised travel agents as well as online via the airline’s website (www.rakairways.com) and travel portals.

Unveiling details about the launch destinations and future plans, Captain Khalid Almeer, Chief Operating Officer of RAK Airways, said: “It is matter of great privilege for me to announce that RAK Airways is set to be airborne on 29th November, with flights to Beirut, Sofia, Colombo and Dhaka. Catering to all passenger segments, RAK Airways will be operating Boeing 757s for its start-up operations.”

He added that RAK Airways will operate three weekly flights to Beirut – in addition to three weekly flights to Dhaka, three flights a week to Colombo and a once-a-week flight to Sofia.

Captain Khalid continued: “As part of our growth strategy in the region, we will launch our operations to destinations in India, Nepal, Qatar and Tanzania over the next two to three months. However, our first objective is to grow and establish RAK Airways in the Middle East.”

He added that RAK Airways plans to acquire six to eight narrow-bodied aircraft within the next two years, covering about 20 destinations within the Gulf, South Asia, Middle East and East Africa. The airline plans to undertake trans-continental flights over the next two to three years.

Referring to market demand, Captain Khalid commented: “As per the Industry sources, air traffic in the UAE is estimated to grow at the rate of 15 per cent per annum and the trends are promising. Ras Al Khaimah has a strong traffic base and we will tap into that. We estimate approximately one million passengers a year and the annual projected growth over the next two- three years is 20 per cent.”

RAK Airways also announced that its tickets would be competitively priced. “We will not create conditions for a fare war. We will respect industry norms with regard to pricing policies,” summed up Captain Khalid.

The launch of RAK Airways is aimed at supporting the economic development of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, as it embarks upon an ambitious expansion programme.

http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Lebanon/219216

Looks like Dhaka airport is getting busy. With this amount of traffic and the number of other organaisations i e airforce, flying club, cargo operators, plant protection using the airport, authorities should think about building a second runway for ZIA. A major airport cannot just rely on one runway. Most of the world's major airports have multiple runways
(except NRT,SAN....). And looking at ZIA on google earth I think there is enough space between the currrent runway and the taxiway to build one.

Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/Dhaka/Dhaka1/Dhaka2/chittagongairport24.jpg

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Hey I have been following the Bangladesh portion of skyscrapercity for a quite good time and find many of the posts very informative. Thanks to all of you guys. As I am currently leaving in the USA and travel to Dhaka quite often wanted to find out if you guys have any information on some new airlines that have been planned to serve Dhaka and Chittagong. There was a talk couple of months ago regarding a new UAE based airline called KPA (Kang Pacific Airlines) and Jet Airways of India supposed to serve Dhaka. However, I have done quite a few research but here are no signs of them. Just curious if any of you knew whats going on with those. Just came to find out Air India Express is now serving Dhaka, connecting it to Kolkata and Mumbai (http://www.farecompare.com/flights/Dhaka-DAC/city.html). Its good to see that now there is a direct flight between Dhaka and Mumbai b/c in the past when I had to travel to Mumbai, it was via Delhi and the waiting time and flight delay of Air India was crazy. Air Sylhet and Royal Bengal Airlines - whats going on with these two airlines? Are they even going to start flying to Dhaka? In Bengali Channels in the US, I saw adds for Air Sylhet couple of days back. Also Air France is now serving Dhaka as a cargo carrier. This is great news. May be in the future it will serve Dhaka as a commercial carrier which will definitely ease up on the travel time for people traveling from cities across the US besides NYC. I hope more European carriers start flying to Dhaka. It is definitely needed. Does any one know about Air Asia serving Chittagong? According various press release, it was supposed to start middle of this year, however there is no accurate information on that. Someone told me GMG is planning on starting flights to Kuala Lumpur stating Jan 6, 2008 from Shah Amanat? Is that true?

In response to the previous post; Some small middle eastern carriers have shown considerable interest to fly to Bangladesh; however, currently air service agreement between BD and most Middle Eastern governments cannot accomodate them unless Biman or the state carriers of the Middle East (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad etc.) give up their frequency rights which is not very likely. However, yes, GMG Airlines has taken frequency from Bangladesh Biman are launching their daily Dubai operations from January 8 (the ASA lists 14 frequencies per country, emirates occupying 14 of Dubai and for Bangladesh 7 frequencies for Biman and 7 now for GMG).

Royal Bengal is just a domestic operator to launch soon with one 20 year old Dash 8-100, and it will take a lot of time for them to generate revenue, expand fleet, and prove their reliability before the govt. even considers allocating them any international routes, this if they can prove themselves, will be quite a long process, typically 3-5 years minimum. Air Sylhet; well same goes for them, if they are indeed not a fraud.

And finally; Yes, GMG is launching daily service from Shah Amanat to Kuala Lumpur in addition to its current 9x weekly service from Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur.

http://www5.0zz0.com/2007/11/26/18/37654197.jpg
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Govt to decide whether to let low-cost airlines fly from Dhaka

The government will decide whether or not to allow low-cost airlines to operate international flights from Zia International Airport as most of them, sensing good business prospects, have shown keen interest in carrying passengers from Dhaka.

The civil aviation and tourism ministry has formed a 10-member committee, headed by a joint secretary of the ministry, to make recommendations to the government in this regard as the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh has refused to grant permission to low-cost airlines to fly from Dhaka despite repeated requests.

‘We will take a decision in this regard after receiving the report from the committee,’ said the civil aviation and tourism secretary, Shaikh Altaf Ali, on November 18.

The committee is expected to submit a report to the government by the middle of next month, said sources in the ministry.

The ministry’s officials said the committee would first find out whether ZIA’s infrastructure is capable of handling the rush of the budget airlines, along with the big airlines, as in most international airports of other countries there are separate arrangements for handling the low-cost airlines.

The CAAB, earlier, granted permission to a low-cost carrier, Air Arabia of the United Arab Emirates, and the Malaysia-based Asia’s biggest budget airline, Air Asia, to operate international flights from the Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong.

Air Arabia currently operates five flights a week from Chittagong to Sharjah out of the seven frequencies it got from the CAAB.

The carrier, however, has requested CAAB to let it operate flights from Dhaka so that it can fully utilise its flight frequencies.

Meanwhile, Air Asia, which was also given permission to operate five flights from Chittagong to Kuala Lumpur after the announcement of the government’s ‘open sky policy’ in the country’s three international airports for three months from October 1, has also sought permission from the CAAB to operate flights from Dhaka.

http://www.newagebd.com/nat.html

Govt to decide whether to let low-cost airlines fly from Dhaka

why do they need to form a committe and take a month for a decision? Isn't it obvious that we need more operators flying in and out of Bangladesh?

Dhaka Zia International Airport

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport202.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport203.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport204.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport201.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport205.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport200.jpg

Low-cost carriers should not be given permission to fly from Zia international Airport as it would not create a level playing field and, low-cost carriers all over the world generally operate from secondary airports. The BD govt. should promote local carriers as most nations do, rather than offering increasing frequencies to foreign carriers, in order to save foreign exchange and actually create a level playing field between local and international airlines. Each of the Middle Eastern carriers have minimum 7 frequencies a week to BD and none of the local carriers had in the past; WHY? No justification...

Low-cost carriers should not be given permission to fly from Zia international Airport as it would not create a level playing field and, low-cost carriers all over the world generally operate from secondary airports. The BD govt. should promote local carriers as most nations do, rather than offering increasing frequencies to foreign carriers, in order to save foreign exchange and actually create a level playing field between local and international airlines. Each of the Middle Eastern carriers have minimum 7 frequencies a week to BD and none of the local carriers had in the past; WHY? No justification...

Firstly, not all major cities have secondary airports. You are probably referring to some of the largest cities - those that experience highest frequency of flights, such as London (Heathrow and Gatwick), New York (Kennedy and La Guardia) and Chicago (O'Hare and Midway). You can hardly compare Dhaka (in terms of flight frequency) to larger hubs in the subcontinent such as Karachi or maybe Bombay to a greater extent and so let alone some of these other places.

Secondly, Bangladesh, until very recently had only two airliners - Biman and GMG. There were others, such as Aero Bengal and Air Parabat which "operated strictly on domestic routes", that came and went. GMG too, until very recently, was primarily a domestic airliner. Also note that it wasn't until recently that it started operating regionally to places like Calcutta. And it wasn't until a few months ago that it started on longer routes. And Biman, if I recall correctly, during its prime days, would go to over ten Middle Eastern locations. In fact, that's where it would receive a major chunk of its revenue. So I do not agree with you when you say that none of the local carriers were allowed to operate on a regular basis to the Middle East and that there is no justification for it.

Firstly, not all major cities have secondary airports. You are probably referring to some of the largest cities - those that experience highest frequency of flights, such as London (Heathrow and Gatwick), New York (Kennedy and La Guardia) and Chicago (O'Hare and Midway). You can hardly compare Dhaka (in terms of flight frequency) to larger hubs in the subcontinent such as Karachi or maybe Bombay to a greater extent and so let alone some of these other places.

Secondly, Bangladesh, until very recently had only two airliners - Biman and GMG. There were others, such as Aero Bengal and Air Parabat which "operated strictly on domestic routes", that came and went. GMG too, until very recently, was primarily a domestic airliner. Also note that it wasn't until recently that it started operating regionally to places like Calcutta. And it wasn't until a few months ago that it started on longer routes. And Biman, if I recall correctly, during its prime days, would go to over ten Middle Eastern locations. In fact, that's where it would receive a major chunk of its revenue. So I do not agree with you when you say that none of the local carriers were allowed to operate on a regular basis to the Middle East and that there is no justification for it.


May GOB permit budget airlines operates from Bangladesh but it is batter to use alternative airport of Zia. It is too hard for Bangladesh to establish and run two airports in its capital city Dhaka for two reasons first of all Zia has not that much airlines which required another airport in Dhaka there only 30-35 internnational flights back/forth from Zia secondly the financial shortege so they can use Shah Amanat Airport in chittagong that will keep running both Biman national carrier and with other budget foreign airlines to boom our second international airport.

Firstly, not all major cities have secondary airports. You are probably referring to some of the largest cities - those that experience highest frequency of flights, such as London (Heathrow and Gatwick), New York (Kennedy and La Guardia) and Chicago (O'Hare and Midway). You can hardly compare Dhaka (in terms of flight frequency) to larger hubs in the subcontinent such as Karachi or maybe Bombay to a greater extent and so let alone some of these other places.

Secondly, Bangladesh, until very recently had only two airliners - Biman and GMG. There were others, such as Aero Bengal and Air Parabat which "operated strictly on domestic routes", that came and went. GMG too, until very recently, was primarily a domestic airliner. Also note that it wasn't until recently that it started operating regionally to places like Calcutta. And it wasn't until a few months ago that it started on longer routes. And Biman, if I recall correctly, during its prime days, would go to over ten Middle Eastern locations. In fact, that's where it would receive a major chunk of its revenue. So I do not agree with you when you say that none of the local carriers were allowed to operate on a regular basis to the Middle East and that there is no justification for it.


It is a fact that no local private carriers were allowed to operate on international and Middle East routes. GMG only was a "domestic airline" until recently because the govt. hadnt allocated international routes earlier to it earlier; in fact, it blocked private Bangladeshi carriers to fly to Middle East while giving more frequency to foreign carriers; it even gave foreign airlines routes on Bangladesh's side of the air service agreement while denying local carriers. Only THIS government has allocated routes to private sector on merit. That is why GMG is starting to fly to more and more intl routes. Earlier, it was deprived.

Old Biman planes

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Yup. I remember when Biman had "bb" as a symbol, the balaka logo was slightly different, and its theme color was blue and red.

May GOB permit budget airlines operates from Bangladesh but it is batter to use alternative airport of Zia. It is too hard for Bangladesh to establish and run two airports in its capital city Dhaka for two reasons first of all Zia has not that much airlines which required another airport in Dhaka there only 30-35 internnational flights back/forth from Zia secondly the financial shortege so they can use Shah Amanat Airport in chittagong that will keep running both Biman national carrier and with other budget foreign airlines to boom our second international airport.

I'm afraid I did not quite understand what you are trying to say. Are you in favor of the government to push Chittagong airport to new and/or low cost carriers? The problem (perhaps it isn't a problem) is, load factor shall always remain the highest from Dhaka, in a counrty like Bangladesh, thus all airlines would prefer to operate from ZIA. The only way I can see, foreign carriers successfully operate from Shah Amanat, would be to code share with some (Bangladesh) domestic carriers, or even Biman, where the foreign carrier's flight would terminate in Chittagong but passengers would reach their final destination (Dhaka) via the domestic carriers within a short time.

Boeing offers to sell 8 planes
to Biman by 2017
Staff Correspondent

US aeroplane maker Boeing Company Wednesday proposed selling eight new generation aircraft to Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited by 2017.
A four-member Boeing team led by the company’s sales director Miguel Santos made the formal proposal at Biman’s board meeting held at the Balaka Bhaban in Dhaka, said sources.
The team has been in Dhaka for negotiating the sales to Bangladesh’s national carrier, which has been facing serious fleet crisis.
Boeing’s regional marketing director Keith Williamson and product specialist Elgin Anderson are also in the team that made a presentation before Biman’s board of directors elaborating on the offer.
Deliveries of four Boeing 747 and four Boeing 777 planes will be possible by 2017 if agreements are signed by January 15 next year, said a senior Biman official said quoting the Boeing team as saying.
Biman managing director and chief executive officer MA Momen, among others, was present at the meeting presided over by cabinet secretary and board chairman Ali Imam Majumder.
If the Biman authorities agree on the offer package, Boeing Company will provide four Boeing aircraft on lease to cope with the crisis until the deliveries of the eight new generation aircraft complete by 2017, according to the official.
The Boeing team elaborated on special features of the aircraft and said the new generation series aircraft would fit Biman’s market environment, said the official preferring anonymity.
‘It is a golden chance for Biman to procure new generation aircraft. We will not be able to survive in the global competition without Boeing,’ president of Bangladesh Airline Pilots’ Association SM Helal told New Age.
He said Biman has no other alternative but to procure new generation aircraft to salvage the national carrier, which had to suspend flights to at least six international destinations due to fleet crisis and expensive maintenance of old DC 10 planes.
Biman is now struggling to survive with three DC-10 and three Airbus out of a total of 12 aircraft in its fleet for 20 international routes. It flies two F-28 aircraft on four domestic routes. -Newage 29/11/07

Can't believe Biman flying 777 even 10 years from now :nuts:

I'm afraid I did not quite understand what you are trying to say. Are you in favor of the government to push Chittagong airport to new and/or low cost carriers? The problem (perhaps it isn't a problem) is, load factor shall always remain the highest from Dhaka, in a counrty like Bangladesh, thus all airlines would prefer to operate from ZIA. The only way I can see, foreign carriers successfully operate from Shah Amanat, would be to code share with some (Bangladesh) domestic carriers, or even Biman, where the foreign carrier's flight would terminate in Chittagong but passengers would reach their final destination (Dhaka) via the domestic carriers within a short time.

Having to travel from Chittagong back to Dhaka would defeat the entire purpose of having budget airlines operate. I simply feel they need to think long-term and they should just prepare an airport in Gazipur or something with all modern amenities. Firstly, ZIA is in the middle of the city and it definitely has its limitations.

^^ Agree on the Gazipur idea. Land needs to be set aside for a new airport now, not later. ZIA can cope for now as our country is still not that developed and flight / passaenger volume still not that great but over the next few decades as dvelopment gathers pace and Dhaka's population continues to grow exponentially, ZIA will be grossly inadequate.

There are 31 flights from the United Arab Emirates to Bangladesh operating by UAE cariers as following:
Emirates 14 times DXB to DAC
Etihad 6 times AUH to DAc
Air Arabia 5 times SHJ to CGP
RAK Air 3 times RAK to DAC starting from 30/11/2007
KPA 3 times FUJ to DAC

But Biman Bangladesh airlines operating only 7 flights DAC to DXB and 5 to AUH.
So GOB can permit privet airlines to operate these cities or codeshare.
I think it will help Biman to make profit again.

RAK Airways takes off on inaugural flight to Dhaka

RAK Airways – the UAE’s newly launched fourth national carrier – took off on its inaugural flight to Dhaka, Thursday 29th November. The full-service airline will fly to Dhaka three times a week, and plans to increase the frequency of flights in the near future.

Commenting on its maiden flight, Captain Khalid Almeer, Chief Operating Officer of RAK Airways, said: “I am pleased to announce that RAK Airways has taken off on its inaugural flight. We have been working very hard to achieve this milestone and are proud to contribute to the economic development of Ras Al Khaimah.” He further added, “We look forward to servicing our customers and will take pride in making each flight a stress-free, comfortable experience.”

Launched under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince & Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. RAK Airways also plans to unveil more destinations, including cities in the GCC countries, India, Nepal, and Tanzania, within three to six months as part of an ambitious growth strategy.

Catering to all passenger segments, RAK Airways will be operating Boeing 757s for its start-up operations, and will consider introducing more flights if it experiences high enough demand.

The airline plans to undertake trans-continental flights over the next two to three years, and aims to cover about 20 destinations within the Gulf, South Asia, Middle East and East Africa.

Tickets can be obtained from authorized travel agents as well as online via the airline’s website www.rakairways.com.

http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/UAE/219489

^^ Agree on the Gazipur idea. Land needs to be set aside for a new airport now, not later. ZIA can cope for now as our country is still not that developed and flight / passaenger volume still not that great but over the next few decades as dvelopment gathers pace and Dhaka's population continues to grow exponentially, ZIA will be grossly inadequate.

We may agree as much as we'd like but my feeling is that it will require a seismic event for any GOB to undertake the construction of a brand new airport. People who run the country, bureaucrats included, have not shown any dynamism in any field, let alone in aviation and I expect the new generation to follow suit. Other governments in the subcontinent aren't any different however, in the case of India, the government has been bamboozled towards modernization and infrastructure development by the big businesses, since the days of Rajiv Ghandhi. Even then, look how many decades (feels like a century) it took for India to come up with the idea of building a new airport for Mumbai? The present airport has been in operation for ages and they have kept it going through patchwork and bandaid, even though it is the busiest airport in the area.

^^ I'm not expecting or even wanting the construction of a new airport just now. I think though it would be prudent to set aside some land within reasonable distance of the city for future use (possibly a few decades from now). In meantime maybe use land in such way - for instance agriculture - that does not necessiate construction of major infastructure on it. They are thinking of building a metro in the next decade or so. I think they should incorporate such a site into a long term metro scheme, so that the line can be extended there when an airport eventually gets built. Advance thought into this would save some headaches down the line. But you are right, govt(s) will probably wait until there is a headache rather than something preemptive.

I found on Amadeus.net that Jet Airways will operate 4x a week Delhi-Dhaka beginning on the 16th of December with Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Plus on the same day they are introducing another Dhaka-Calcutta flight which will operate 7x a week. Does anyone know when is the Private Company BestAir is going to start passenger service and are they going straight into International flights

^^ I'm not expecting or even wanting the construction of a new airport just now......... .

Wouldn't that be wonderful, Tan? In the reality of Bangladesh alas, I would expect "land grab" instead of "land set aside" (for national development).

When the then Pakistan government chose Kurmitola as the site for a new airport, it was already too old and bad planning. Don't you think people had the statistical know how then, that the airport would be encircled by urban growth in less than two decade? They chose that site because it was convenient and less expensive owing to the fact an old airstrip existed at the site, built by the British during WW II.

I don't think we can build a new airport any time soon. We simply don't have the resources. We need to invest in other areas where the rate of return will be much higher. However, there are lots of room for improving existing infrastructures such as ZIA.

Boeing offers to sell Biman 12 aircraft

Dhaka, Nov 29 (bdnews24.com) – US aircraft manufacturer Boeing Company has offered to sell Biman Bangladesh Airlines 12 airplanes including the latest 787 and 777 models, an official said Thursday.

The Boeing 787 is a relatively fuel-efficient aircraft.

Boeing has told Biman that it could supply the planes by 2011, the Biman official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media, told bdnews24.com.

The Biman board of directors held a meeting Wednesday night to take a decision on the proposal but the meeting ended without any, the official added.

The decision will be finalized after Biman's purchase committee gives its opinion, he said.

The national flag carrier invited international tenders to buy four big planes after leasing them four months ago.

Due to a lack of responses to the tender, Biman decided to deal directly with aircraft companies.

Biman is planning to bankroll its new plane purchases and sell off old aircraft.

A Biman source said most of its aircraft, many of which are 25-year-old vintage planes, were out of order for minor technical difficulties.

The planes included five DC-10s, four Airbuses and four F-28s.

bdnews24.com/br/su/ai/bd/2046hours

I don't think we can build a new airport any time soon. We simply don't have the resources. We need to invest in other areas where the rate of return will be much higher. However, there are lots of room for improving existing infrastructures such as ZIA.

Quite true, although if tall buildings keep surrounding the airport approach, ICAO/IATA may give up on ZIA. Otherwise, ZIA can have a second runway and expand on terminals, and other facilities.

I just strongly feel that thinking long term NOW, would reap far more rewards than thinking longer term in 10 years. By thinking long term, I mean having our airport outside of Dhaka in more of a suburban setting, preferably in Ashulia or maybe even Gazipur. My point is that it is an inevitability that it will have to move at some point or the other - it's a matter of WHEN rather than IF.

Speaking of the old Tejgaon airport - I think it's simply ridiculous that we have an airport in the middle of the city, which is supposedly used for training purposes of our ailing and almost non-existent Air Force, which hardly has a squadron of planes from the World War era. This airport along with the cantonment area needs to be moved out of Dhaka permanently. Dhaka is rapidly growing and land is by far our scarcest resource here in Bangladesh - we have to utilize it fully while we can.

^^ That's what I was saying SAS...not to build an airport now...just to make provision for the future.

Good luck getting the army out of Dhaka :nuts: though that's exactly what should happen. Personally I would like to turn the airport area into a "central park" - something akin to which every world-class city needs. Land peripheral to the park could be set aside for construction of world-class museums and other cultural institutions at some future date when they may benefit the intellectual growth of our people. Rest of cantonnment I would prefer used for more "practical" purposes. Army ideally would relocate to Savar, Gazipur or some other suburb.

Boeing offers to sell Biman 12 aircraft

that's great news Amar. Welcome to the forum.

^^ That's what I was saying SAS...not to build an airport now...just to make provision for the future.

Good luck getting the army out of Dhaka :nuts: though that's exactly what should happen. Personally I would like to turn the airport area into a "central park" - something akin to which every world-class city needs. Land peripheral to the park could be set aside for construction of world-class museums and other cultural institutions at some future date when they may benefit the intellectual growth of our people. Rest of cantonnment I would prefer used for more "practical" purposes. Army ideally would relocate to Savar, Gazipur or some other suburb.

It is as likely to relocate Dhaka cantonment or the army as it is to find plentiful water on Mars. The old Tejgoan airport isn't used for Air Force training anymore. All fixed wing Airforce aircrafts operate out of ZIA, so I don't know how long they'll keep on using that excuse. Although, Tejgoan wouldn't be a bad choice as LCC terminal/airport. Being in the middle of the city isn't so bad. There are numerous mid city airports across the US and most of thriving owing to discount carriers.

Dhaka simply has to build bypassing the cantonment and spread into greater suburbs.

It is as likely to relocate Dhaka cantonment or the army as it is to find plentiful water on Mars. The old Tejgoan airport isn't used for Air Force training anymore. All fixed wing Airforce aircrafts operate out of ZIA, so I don't know how long they'll keep on using that excuse. Although, Tejgoan wouldn't be a bad choice as LCC terminal/airport. Being in the middle of the city isn't so bad. There are numerous mid city airports across the US and most of thriving owing to discount carriers.

Dhaka simply has to build bypassing the cantonment and spread into greater suburbs.

Yes but those airports in the smaller US cities are still relatively far away from their central business districts. Kawran Bazaar is hardly 2 miles away from the Tejgaon airport, so that doesn't make any sense. We've already come down to the conclusion that Dhaka does not need two airports, considering its very limited air traffic volume.

^^ That's what I was saying SAS...not to build an airport now...just to make provision for the future.

Good luck getting the army out of Dhaka :nuts: though that's exactly what should happen. Personally I would like to turn the airport area into a "central park" - something akin to which every world-class city needs. Land peripheral to the park could be set aside for construction of world-class museums and other cultural institutions at some future date when they may benefit the intellectual growth of our people. Rest of cantonnment I would prefer used for more "practical" purposes. Army ideally would relocate to Savar, Gazipur or some other suburb.

Central park? Quit dreaming Tan!

Central park? Quit dreaming Tan!

A little daydreaming never hurt anyone...but if you think about it wouldn't be that hard to implement if the army accepts my invitation to move to Savar :D...the land is essentially unbuilt upon right now so all that would be necessary would be to plant some grass and trees.

^^ Here's where I would plop my dream park. Politically impossible maybe, but physically, quite feasible.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/tanzirian/park.jpg

Using Tejgaon for LCC operation at least on a limited scale is not a bad idea. Take a look at London City(LCY) having no problem what so ever. Doing this would lessen the pressure on ZIA. But ofcourse if PSC is not moved out, don't think building a new terminal is economically viable.

Cantonment has many private properties too.

A little daydreaming never hurt anyone...but if you think about it wouldn't be that hard to implement if the army accepts my invitation to move to Savar :D...the land is essentially unbuilt upon right now so all that would be necessary would be to plant some grass and trees.

Yes, and it wouldn't cost that much either. Today Tejgoan airport is nothing but a total waste of land. Perhaps sombody should suggest this idea to the powers that be, RAJUK, Dhaka City Corporation?

GMG Airlines almost 10 years on, A moth grows into a butterfly
December 1, 2007
-A Monitor Report
Dhaka : With GMG Airlines, two years in the black and approaching the 10th year of operation, Shahab Sattar, Managing Director, describes his airline as "a moth growing into a butterfly" as he plans flights to Dubai in January, Kuwait, Muscat, Karachi, Singapore by May 2008, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern destinations by December 2008 and Euro-pean operations including flights to London and Milan by the first quarter of 2009.
The models of a MD-82 aircraft dwarfs that of a Dash-8 on his table and there is a model of Boeing B787 Dream-liner, perhaps illustrating the present, past and the future. Whether GMG Airlines will fly the Dreamliner in the future, will be for him to decide in the days ahead. But right now his aircraft will continue to come in, on wet lease. In the fast week of December, he is expected to welcome the first B737-800, the first B767-300 ER will be arriving on January 7, 2008 and the first B747-300 on February 18. He hopes to bring two more MD-82s and have brand new Boeing B777s by 2012.
The Boeing B737-800, manufactu-red in 2005, will be configured in 189 all Economy Class seats. It will enable him to operate two flights a day to Kua-la Lumpur_ seven from Dhaka and seven via Chittagong. He hopes to fly to Kath-mandu daily as he feels there is substantial passenger traffic from Nepal to Malaysia who can travel via Dhaka. Shahab Sattar also hopes to operate the aircraft on Karachi route, as well.
The Boeing B747-300 will be used on Dubai, Muscat, Kuwait routes. "We'll fly everyday to Dubai from January 7. The company from which we are bringing the aircraft has go-od maintnan-ce facilities and spares stock in Du-bai. The aircraft will un-dergo maintenance in Du-bai as it will have plenty of time there and there will be no shortage of spare parts."
He hoped that financing would not be a problem for the future aircraft. "A lot of investors are willing to invest if you can show them the prospects," he said.
Asked about cabin crew, he said, as it is wet lease, the aircraft will come along with the cabin crew. Meanwhile, the airline is recruiting cabin crew not only from Bangladesh but also from the neighbouring countries to add regional flavour and sending them in batches to the aircraft provider for training, as they require to be trained and certified in UK.
Shahab Sattar said plans to upgrade booking systems to provide e-ticketing soon and Internet ticketing in the days ahead.
On a query regarding recent dislocations in GMG flights, Shahab Sattar said we are happy with MD-82s' service. For us it was a transition from prop to jet, and it was quite a bit of transformation. There were teething problems with maintenance and spares. It may have been for our learning curve. After all so many elements come into operations. We now have enough crew and enough spare parts, and our schedules are much better now.
GMG Airlines, established in 1997, took to the air on April 6, 1998 and went international on September 8, 2004. The international operations helped the airline to get into the black. The airline has already captured 39.8 per cent of the Kolkata market, 21 per cent of the Kathmandu market, 17.3 per cent of the New Delhi market, 15 per cent of the Kuala Lumpur market, 24.4 per cent of Bangkok market from Dhaka and 33.4 per cent of the Bang-kok market from Chittagong, Shahab Sattar claimed

Yet another airline is interested to fly to Bangladesh! Just found this new carrier which haven't been mentioned before:

"Gadair European Airlines is now in its final phase for the setting up of the route Madrid-Bahrain.
Through associated airline companies, Gadair will have access to the most important emerging destinations in Asia such as Malaysia, India, Thailand, Pakistan, Nepal or Bangladesh."

Check out at: http://www.gadair.com/eng/contenidos/rutas/

Using Tejgaon for LCC operation at least on a limited scale is not a bad idea. Take a look at London City(LCY) having no problem what so ever.

This is true for many world class cities like London, Toronto, Chicago etc. LCY requires a very steep landing, so much so that special certification was required for A318 to land in LCY. Airbus had to modify the software in A318 also, because normally the software wouldn't allow the pilot to maneuver the plane that much.

Anyway, I think CAAB has very very limited knowledge and expertise when it comes to the matter of managing aviation industry. Looking at the Tejgaon airport from google map, it seems that this airport could very well be utilized for commercial matters. But the only think I heard from CAAB recently is that they want to demolish 100's of building in far away places like Panthapath to keep this DEAD airport alive. :nuts:I think they were demanding that certain floors of Bashudhara shopping complex along with every surrounding building needed to be demolished. I think it is very urgent to demolish few individuals from CAAB to keep this incompetent organization alive! :bash:

Anyway, in this day and age if you want to run matters as smooth as those in the first world countries, you need people having knowledge and expertise similar to those in the first world countries. Unfortunately BD seriously lacks that.

:

Anyway, in this day and age if you want to run matters as smooth as those in the first world countries, you need people having knowledge and expertise similar to those in the first world countries. Unfortunately BD seriously lacks that.[/QUOTE]

Ya, CAAB needs to be cleaned. The cancer of incompetancy is shrouding this organisation. Well as a whole thats the epic story of Bangladesh.

On the subject of Tejgaon airport, there has to be a better use of that place. I remember back in the late 90's Air Parabat was operating out of that airport. Facilities were marginal, still it was a move towards the right direction.

Yes Ithink that Tejgaon Airport should reopen for budget airlines or bangladeshi privet airlines (GMG, Royal Bengal, United Airways) for domestic operation (Chittagong, Shylet etc). it will help to reduce pressure on Zia and other hand be a source of income for CAAB.

Barisal Airport

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/Dhaka/Dhaka1/Dhaka2/barisalairport.jpg

Yes Ithink that Tejgaon Airport should reopen for budget airlines or bangladeshi privet airlines (GMG, Royal Bengal, United Airways) for domestic operation (Chittagong, Shylet etc). it will help to reduce pressure on Zia and other hand be a source of income for CAAB.

I the Tejgaon airport is the most redundant facility we have in Dhaka city. I hate to even refer to it as a facility as it is serving nobody. At the time of its construction, Dhaka was very small, restricted to the Motijheel and Shahbag areas. High rises were of course not an issue either.

We cannot have such airports INSIDE the city. These just need to go out.

^^As far as I know, Tejgaon airport was never opened for commercial careers after handing it over to the BAF in the early 80’s. GMG and Air Parabat were using the parade ground compound as a temporary airport. The parade ground road (the long road) in Bejoy nogor was used as a runway. That was the first airport for GMG to operate out of Dhaka.

Tejgaon airport has a huge potential to become an important airport of the country. Well, having potential and being able to fully utilize that potential for the best interest of the country are two different matters, at least in BD. Although we hope that some capable person sees the potential and actually helps to turn the potential into prosperity.

On the side note, it is very difficult to build airport from scratch. Building airport would require massive land acquisition. The land must be very solid also. It's not feasible for BD to have a new airport any time in the foreseeable future at all. We need to utilize and invest our scarce resources, both land and financial, in matters that would return the highest value. For example, if we have 1 billion dollars to invest, it would be wise to invest in building mono rails, flyovers and/or subways. Because that would return the most out of our investments.

Tejgaon airport is a well-established airport having been there for 50+ years. This airport can easily be upgraded with a fraction of the cost required for building a new one.

Almost all renowned cities of the world have airports within the city. Having airports within a city is nothing new and quite common.

JAKARTA, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Indonesia's private airline company Lion Air still has some difficulties in its acquisition of some domestic airlines in Australia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Malaysia as of 2008, ANTARA reported.

President of Lion Air Rusdi Kirana told the press in Langkawi that the obstacles include the regulation on capital ownership limitations by foreign investors in each of these countries, and manpower problems.

With regard to foreign ownership limitation, the regulations in Australia, Thailand and Bangladesh demand the same requirement, namely not more than 49 percent, while Lion Air wished for a controlling position of more than 50 percent.

With regard to manpower, the regional domestic airline companies generally already have personnel which is considered inefficient for Lion Air's strategy which will continue operating in the market of low-cost carriers.

Rusdi said the personnel had already been working for quite a long time in the domestic airline companies so that it would not be so easy to resort to a rationalisation.

"For the time being I cannot disclose the names of the regional airline companies which we will try to take over, but I predicted that the first quarter of 2008 the acquisition will cover two regional airline companies of two countries," he said.

He said that the acquisition strategy on taking over regional airline companies is preparatory to entering the Asean free market in 2010.

Under this plan, Lion Air purchased 22 Boeing 737-900 ERs at the Langkawi Air Show in Malaysia (LIMA 2007), on Tuesday (4/12) to bolster its position in the national and regional airline business competition.

The signing of the contract on the purchase of the aircraft by Lion Air President Rusdi Kirana and Senior Vice President Boeing Dinesh A Keskar in Langkawi Tuesday was witnessed by Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister concurrently Defense Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Under the new contract, Lion Air will have and operate 122 B 737-900 ERs because earlier, namely by the end of 2006, the airline company has signed purchase contract for 100 aircraft of the same type.

-- BERNAMA

Air Sylhet starts operation by early next month

Air Sylhet, a UK based airline established mainly by expatriate Bangladeshis, yesterday laid bare its plan to start operation of flights for the first time on an international route from Sylhet by the month-end or early January.

At a press conference in Dhaka, Kabir Khan, the airline's chairman, said that it will initially conduct two flights a week with a single Boeing 767 aircraft on London- Luton-Sharjah- Sylhet-Dhaka route.

Khan sought extension of the timeframe for keeping Bangladesh's sky open for new entrants to the benefit of the travellers, especially overseas job seekers, who sometimes face unavailability of aircraft to fly.

"We hope that the government will extend the deadline and keep sky open for the benefit of the travellers", Khan told journalists.

The government's open sky policy expires this month.

In September, the country's three airports were declared open for international flight operators in Bangladesh for a period of three months to facilitate travel of Bangladeshi workers to the Middle Eastern countries and Malaysia.

The airports came under the open sky policy are Zia International Airport in Dhaka, Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong and Osmani International Airport in Sylhet.

“Even if the government doesn't extend the time, we will operate our scheduled flights through partnership arrangements,” the chairman of Air Sylhet said, adding that they eyed air travel by about 7 million expatriate Bangladeshis.

“We believe there is a viable business. We also believe that we have the capacity to provide standard services,” Khan said.

Kim O'Neil, the airline's managing director, said their preparation for starting operation of flights is now at final stage.

Neil however pointed out that the airport in Sylhet still suffers from refueling arrangement.

“The airport has been declared as an international one. But it still lacks full facility,” said Air Sylhet Vice Chairman Shab Uddin.

According to the industry experts, the aviation market in Bangladesh shows around 8 percent growth per annum.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=14358

Well...until they actually do fly, I wouldn't trust any dates coming out of Air Sylhet. Initially, it was June 2007. Then it was Summer 2007. Then Kim O'Neil stated on a TV channel it would be by the end of November 2007. Now they say early January 2008 with a routing via Sylhet after the 3 month Open Skies policy comes to a close. If they'd kept their November 2007 launch date, they'd be well established by now given the Open Skies policy.

http://airlineroute.blogspot.com/2007/12/yemenia-resumes-dhaka-service.html

Have not seen any other info, but it is on Yemenia's website and listed in OAG.

http://www.jetairways.com/Cultures/en-US/India/About+Us/Press+Room/Press+Releases/DelhiKolkatawithDhaka.htm

Jet Airways Connects Delhi & Kolkata with Dhaka, effective December 16, 2007
06 Dec 2007

Jet Airways, India’s premier airline today announced the launch of its daily direct flight from Kolkata to Dhaka and four flights a week from Delhi to Dhaka, effective December 16, 2007. With the induction of these new flights, Jet Airways’ Dhaka passengers will get a convenient connection when flying to and from London via Delhi.

Announcing the launch of these new flights, Jet Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said, “With the launch of its Bangladesh operations, Jet Airways is proud to connect Dhaka to the rest of India and onwards, through its vast domestic and international network. As ties between India and Bangladesh have strengthened over the years, there has been a surge in business and leisure travel, especially those visiting friends and family, between the two countries. It is our belief that with the superior quality of its services, Jet Airways will offer its passengers exceptional value on these routes.”

Jet Airways’ flight 9W 274 (Kolkata-Dhaka) will depart on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at 0700 hrs and arrive at Dhaka’s Zia International Airport at 0815 hrs. On the return leg, flight 9W 273 (Dhaka-Kolkata) will depart Dhaka’s Zia International Airport at 1615 hrs and arrive at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at 1620 hrs.

During the rest of the week (Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays), Jet Airways’ flight 9W 274 (Kolkata- Dhaka) will depart Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at 1400 hrs and arrive at Dhaka’s Zia International Airport at 1515 hrs. On the return leg, flight 9W 273 (Dhaka-Kolkata) will depart Dhaka’s Zia International Airport at 1615 hrs and arrive at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at 1620 hrs.

Jet Airways will connect the capital cities of Bangladesh and India, Dhaka and Delhi respectively, with the operation of four flights a week. This flight will operate on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays. Jet Airways’ flight 9W 272 (Delhi-Dhaka) will depart Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 1225 hrs and arrive at Dhaka’s Zia International Airport at 1515 hrs. Flight 9W 271 (Dhaka–Delhi) will depart Dhaka’s Zia International Airport at 0915 hrs and arrive at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 1105 hrs. These flights will provide suitable connections for passengers travelling to and from London on Jet Airways brand new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

These flights will operate with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 24 seats in Premiere Class and 120 seats in Economy Class.

For further information, passengers are requested to contact the Jet Airways toll-free number on 3989-3333 or 18-00-22-55-22 or your travel agent.

Jet Airways, the Spirit of New India:

Jet Airways currently operates a fleet of 74 aircraft, which includes 8 Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, 6 Airbus A330-200 aircraft, 52 classic and next generation Boeing 737-400/700/800/900 aircraft and 8 modern ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft. With an average fleet age of 4.70 years, the airline has one of the youngest aircraft fleet in the world. Jet Airways operates over 355 flights daily.

Flights to 54 destinations span the length and breadth of India and beyond, including New York (JFK), New York (Newark), Toronto, Brussels, London Heathrow, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, Bangkok and Kathmandu. The airline plans to extend its international operations to other cities in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia in phases with the induction of additional wide-body aircraft into its fleet. Since its inception in May 1993 to November 2007, Jet Airways has carried over 81.8 million passengers on its services.

Air Slovakia launches Bangladesh operations

The inaugural flight of newly launched Air Slovakia yesterday left Dhaka for Italy via Slovakian capital Bratislava.

The first Air Slovakia flight, a 757 Boeing aircraft with 200-passenger accommodation, left Zia International Airport at 10:30 am for the European destination.

http://www.thedailystar.net/photos/2007-12-08__bus03.jpg
An aircraft of Air Slovakia prepares to take off at Zia International Airport in Dhaka yesterday as the airline started its Bangladesh operations.

Air Slovakia officials said the flight would take 11 hours to reach Bologna of Italy with one hour's stay in the Slovakian capital.

They said the new Eastern European airline would operate its flight regularly once a week for the European destinations, including London. However, the London-bound flight will operate from second half of the current month.

Earlier, the Air Slovakia authorities announced their new flight operations from Dhaka to London via Bratislava with a very competitive ticket tariff.

Air Slovakia will be the second airline after British Airways to operate direct flights from Dhaka to London.

The airline's Chairman HS Sidhu said the carrier would initially operate a flight once a week.

The number of flights might be increased to two or three a week depending on the demand from passengers, he said and expected a huge prospect for the airline, now operating flights from India to different European destinations.

Air Slovakia's flights will also touch some other European destinations, including Vienna in Austria in course of time.

Local firm Aerospeed International is the GSA (general sales agent) of Air Slovakia that has operations in 35 destinations across the world, mostly in Europe.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=14641

http://www.jetphotos.net/img/1/7/5/8/99492_1176129857.jpg

http://www.jetphotos.net/img/1/4/2/8/74466_1184628824.jpg

http://www.jetphotos.net/img/1/2/1/7/90508_1180205712.jpg

http://www.jetphotos.net/img/2/2/2/2/33864_1179392222.jpg

http://www.jetphotos.net/img/1/3/9/8/47792_1175072893.jpg

And a really messed up plane or probably just getting repaired.

http://www.jetphotos.net/img/1/4/2/2/88867_1188013224.jpg

Afp, New Delhi


India's largest domestic airline Jet Airways said on Friday it will launch non-stop flights to Dhaka as it continues to spread its international wings.

Jet will operate daily non-stop flights from the eastern Indian city of Kolkata and four flights a week from the Indian capital New Delhi, beginning December 16, a company spokeswoman said.

"There has been a surge in business and leisure travel, especially those visiting friends and family, between the two countries," the company's chief executive officer Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said in a statement.

Dhaka is the latest international destination for the airline, which launched flights this year to New York, Toronto, Brussels and Bangkok as it moves to expand its operations.

Jet already flies to Colombo, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and London. It began flying in 1993, and plies 44 domestic routes.

The airline plans to launch flights to other cities in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

www.thedailystarts.com

And a really messed up plane or probably just getting repaired.



No, it's not. This is the A310 that crashed, the landing gear collapsed while on take off roll, in Dubai airport last year. Since then this aircraft has been written off as non-repairable and Biman received $10+ million (I don't recall the exact amount) from the insurance company.

thanks for the clarification clearsky.

on december 5th, gmg airlines launched its double-daily flights to Kuala Lumpur; 7 flights on DAC-KUL route utilizing Next Gen. 737-800s and 7 flights on CGP-KUL route utlizing its MD82s. The Boeing 737-800 was delivered on Dec. 4, and a Boeing 767-300 ER is arriving on Jan 7th which will operate a daily DAC-Dubai flight, and a 747 is coming in on Feb 18 which will be used for Kuwait and Muscat. Karachi and Singapore are being launched in the next few months as well.

Jet is starting operations in Dec. 16; and competition is always healthy on the India routes. Zia International Airport is starting to get very busy; and never before has there been such an influx of new flights.

Royal Bengal, with their single 37-seater Dash 8 have yet to start operations and United is suffering as its not being able to compete with GMG in the market.

thanks for the info lb06040. You sound like you have inside info on GMG. I wish GMG all the success! We need a stable domestic carrier.

^^
Yes, lb06040 must have an inside track with GMG. Perhaps lb06040 could spring a picture of GMG's new 737-800? Who did they acquire it from? Was it a purchase or lease? Information on GMG's MD-82s were available well in advance prior to their arrival in Dhaka, yet I cannot find any information on their 737 or 767.

On another note, I wonder why everybody wants to fly to Delhi and not Mumbai, from Dhaka? Not much demand?

Saudia is selling their B747-100/300 and MD90 aircraft. I wonder if the newcomers or GMG is considering them for purchase?

Well the 737-800 and 767-300 ER are on 5 year wet-lease (ACMI) w/options to purchase, they are relatively new; the 737 was manufactured in 2006 and the 767 was manufactured around the same time. A 747 is coming in on feb 18; but its a 300-range. The aircraft are actually based in Dubai and Kuala Lumpur as Zia International Airpot lacks the maintenance facilties. Hence, they fly KUL-DAC-KUL and DXB-DAC-DXB and Duba-Dhaka-Kuwait-Dhaka-Dubai for example. Maintenance and spares are a big issue, and since Zia neither has a spares stock nor maintenance facilities (no 737s, 747s 0r 767s are operated by Biman), these additions to the GMG fleet will be sitting in KL and DXB and only fly to DAC. There is a general idea to go for newer aircraft and not only aircraft also. Plus its adding another 2 MD82 also in the next few months.

Interestingly the terms of wet-lease include crew members as well. Crew training is a big issue as well, but they will receive the trained crews so there will be no delay in starting up services. S. Sattar, the MD of GMG, also mentioned that they were trying to recruit cabin crews from neighboring countries to give the airline an international feeling.

In the case of United, it's not too unexpected that this airline would run into bumps as all startups do. GMG has proven it self and survived in the midst of difficulties. United will have to walk the same path.

Well the 737-800 and 767-300 ER are on 5 year wet-lease (ACMI) w/options to purchase, they are relatively new; the 737 was manufactured in 2006 and the 767 was manufactured around the same time. A 747 is coming in on feb 18; but its a 300-range. The aircraft are actually based in Dubai and Kuala Lumpur as Zia International Airpot lacks the maintenance facilties. .

ZIA cannot be blamed for the lack of facilities. They don't exist because the need wasn't there, as Biman has different types of aircrafts. It would be incumbent upon GMG to build the infrastructure to maintain their fleet locally. If the cost is prohibitive, they will simply continue with ACMI and have them serviced at better price points. If however, GMG continues to grow and becomes as dominant as Biman, if not surpass them, GMG shall feel the need to build the aircraft and crew support/training infrastructure, locally.

AirAsia X carrying Bangladeshis to KL

Malaysia's long-haul budget carrier AirAsia X, a concern of Air Asia, has started operation in Bangladesh on charter basis to carry Malaysia-bound workers.

The airline has already operated two flights to Kula Lumpur since its debut in Bangladesh on December 3 with workers who have long been waiting due to lack of flights, said a press statement.

"We are looking for operating scheduled flights between Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur as Bangladesh is a potential market for airline business," said Sarjit Singh, the airline's ground operation service manager who is also looking after the airline's charter flights in Bangladesh.

The charter flights were arranged by the airline's local agent Celebrity Tours and Travels, which said five chartered flights will be operated on the route every week except for Friday and Sunday.

AirAsia X entered Bangladesh market after the government in September allowed designated airlines to operate more flights under an open sky policy for three months.

The open sky policy, due to expire by the end of December, is to facilitate travel of around 1,50,000 Bangladeshi workers to Middle East countries and Malaysia. These workers got stranded for flight shortages.

The government declared three airports -- Zia International Airport in Dhaka, Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong and Osmani International Airport in Sylhet -- open for international flight operators.

With a population of over 140 million and having over five million expatriate workers, the country has many advantages to draw the attentions of airline operators, said Singh.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=14907

GMG

all photos were take at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/gmg12.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/gmg13.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/gmg14.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/gmg11.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/gmg10.jpg

Air Asia declared that they are going to start flying from Chittagong's Shah Amanat International Airport five times a week. and now they are operating charter flight from Dhaka to Kulalampur. any body knows abot their actual plan??

^^
Thanks TMAC (or to whomever the credit is due) for the nice pictures of GMG's MD82. Could you please post pictures of GMG's new aircrafts (737, 767)? Thanks again.

Mamun, why don't you write a request to Air Asia via its site ? :D Currently Air Asia X is operating chartered service between KUL and Dhaka but if there are requests/pressures from Bangladeshi side ( i.e. travellers and businesspeople ) , there is high possibility that Air Asia will turn it into a commercial service.

what is a comfort class? This person was a Malaysian citizen flying to Kathmundu from Kuala Lumpur on GMG. It's good to see that foreign nationals are flying GMG as well using Dhaka as transit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/gmgboardingpass.jpg

^^
While GMG proudly displays their url on their aircrafts, they appear make very little use of today's information technology. Even Biman has discarded pre-printed boarding pass for computer (printer) generated ones. Small airlines like GMG can bring about operational efficiency and reduce labor costs through better use of IT.

But on the brighter note, it is heartening to see foreigners flying Bangladeshi carrier!

what is a comfort class? This person was a Malaysian citizen flying to Kathmundu from Kuala Lumpur on GMG. It's good to see that foreign nationals are flying GMG as well using Dhaka as transit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/gmgboardingpass.jpg

Err... this is the first time I saw a boarding pass without passenger name !!??

GMG will catch up with everyone else soon. They are planning on introducing e-tickets in the not too distant future.

However, the above boarding pass does look like it was printed 20 years ago!

This is very inspiring that GMG is really expanding. However, their website is remaining the same showing a fleet of dash 8s. It appears that here are some insiders of GMG. If so, please ask them to update their website.

Cox's Bazar Airport

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/Dhaka/Dhaka1/Dhaka2/coxsbazarairport4.jpg

Photographer Chai Tzong Ying took this photo of GMG's 737-800. I guess the former operator's / lessor's livery and registration is retained.

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/images/uploaded-images/2007-12/8472.jpg[/IMG]

More on this photo at: http://www.airplane-pictures.net/image8472.html

Thanks, Chai.

^^
Perhaps it is a very short term lease otherwise why won't they repaint the aircraft in GMG colors? I hope the same shall not be the case for the 767 and 747 being leased. GMG needs to show its customers and competitors that the airline is moving ahead.

This is a wonderful aircraft and a familiar sight forme in the UK.
Globespan is a UK based airline who, as you can read from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyglobespan), started as a travel agent and selling chartered flights to eventually getting their own UK CAA AOC.

As far as I know they are not doing so well thus you can see one of their latest aircraft with GMG Airlines.

I would presume this is a very short term lease therefore it isn't viable for them to spend a lot of money for a new livery! Unless GMG wanted the aircraft immediately and coudn't wait for a slot at the livery painters (which I highly doubt!)

Here are few details I found on the CAA UK Aircraft register (http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1):

Registration: G-CDEG
Current Reg. Date: 21/03/2005
First Reg. Date: 21/03/2005
Type: BOEING 737-8BK
Serial No.: 33022
Aircraft Class: FIXED-WING LANDPLANE
Engines: 2 x CFM CFM56-7B27
Ownership Status: Chartered
Registered Owners: GLOBESPAN AIRWAYS LTD
TRADING AS: FLYGLOBESPAN.COM
10 WEST MILL ROAD
EDINBURGH
EH13 0NX
UNITED KINGDOM

I'd really like to see, and the people of Bangladesh deserve, a similar next generation aircraft for years to come!

^^interesting info. thank you.

Jet Airways Starts flying from Dhaka to Delhi and calcutta (India)
Saroj K Datta (2-R), executive director of Jet Airways, speaks at a press conference in Dhaka yesterday to announce the launch of Jet Airways in Bangladesh. Sudhakor Rao (2-L), senior general manager sales (East India) of Jet Airways, A Azad (R), managing director of Maas Travels and Tours, local GSA of the airline, and Azizur Rahman, chairman of Maas Travels and Tours, are also seen.
India's private airline Jet Airways enters Bangladesh sky today to operate flights on Dhaka-Kolkata and Dhaka-Delhi routes, a move industry experts believe will intensify competition in the market.

Jet Airways will be the second Indian airline after Air India operating in Bangladesh. Bangladesh's national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd and private GMG Airlines are also operating flights to India.

Bangladesh's airline market, which industry experts said is growing by 8 percent a year, has experienced the entry of a large number of local and international flight operators this year.

At least four international carriers-- Air Arabia, RAK Airways, Air Slovakia and Air Asia X-- and two local airlines -- United Airways and Anmole Albab Airlines -- launched operations in Bangladesh during the past 12 months.

"There has been a surge in business, healthcare and leisure travel between Bangladesh and India," Saroj K Datta, executive director of Jet Airways, told a press conference in Dhaka yesterday.

Jet Airways said the airline will operate daily direct flight from Dhaka to Kolkata and four flights a week from Dhaka to Delhi, with effect from today. It will operate Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

The airline will charge US$ 420 for two-way Dhaka-Delhi (economy class) ticket and US$ 113 for two-way Dhaka-Kolkata (economy class) ticket.

"We will also provide suitable connections for passengers travelling to and from London," Datta added.

Datta said the airline, which eyes passengers from Sylhet to London, will provide transport services by bus for the passengers from Sylhet to Dhaka.

The airline said it operates a fleet of 75 aircraft to connect 54 destinations within India and beyond including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Thailand, Belgium, the US and Canada.

As far as I know they are not doing so well thus you can see one of their latest aircraft with GMG Airlines.

I would presume this is a very short term lease therefore it isn't viable for them to spend a lot of money for a new livery! Unless GMG wanted the aircraft immediately and coudn't wait for a slot at the livery painters (which I highly doubt!)



Didn't somebody mention earlier here it is a five year lease? I would surely want the lessor to re-paint the aircraft in my livery, if it is longer than six months.

^^It's not a good idea not to paint the airlines' color and logo. Business strategy wise they would want to expand the name recognition of the airlines as much as possible. And not painting the aircraft with it's own livery doesn't help in this matter. Usually only chartered aircrafts are not painted.

However, painting doesn't come cheap either as thousands of pounds of paints are being applied.

They should definitely paint the aircraft if they want to keep it longer, say, for at least a year or so. This isn't the place to cut cost, in my view.

Re: Jet Airways,

"We will also provide suitable connections for passengers travelling to and from London," Datta added.

Well, promises are just fine and dandy -- but reality will hit Dhaka-connecting passengers hard. India's airports can't already cope with the local Indian passenger traffic at present -- much less connections. I've heard of people waiting two days or so on layover in Delhi -- and that was not during Winter peak season...

Better connection to Dhaka are from London (BA Direct), NJ East Coast (Continental and Cathay to HK -- new polar route) and LA West Coast(Cathay to HK)

Re: Jet Airways,



Well, promises are just fine and dandy -- but reality will hit Dhaka-connecting passengers hard. India's airports can't already cope with the local Indian passenger traffic at present -- much less connections. I've heard of people waiting two days or so on layover in Delhi -- and that was not during Winter peak season...

Better connection to Dhaka are from London (BA Direct), NJ East Coast (Continental and Cathay to HK -- new polar route) and LA West Coast(Cathay to HK)

Unfortunately, BA does not operate from Dhaka, daily. Whereas, they have more than one flight a day from BOM. If tJetAirways connect Dhaka with Mumbai as they are planning, it will be better for passengers from Bangladesh.

I read in Bangladesh Monitor the other day that Air India has suspended their Delhi-Dhaka flights due to heavy fog at Delhi. I am skeptical of the excuse because of two reasons:

1) Delhi Airport was upgraded to ILS CAT IIIA about a year ago precisely for this problem.

2) Why does the same "problem" not affect GMG and Jet Airways?

I think the real reason is equipment shortage combined with not high enough load factor that they can sacrifice this route without losing too much revenue (if they were making money).

Actually, DEL has CAT IIIB instrument landing system. But CAT IIIB can also allow operations only upto a visibility of 50m. When visibility drops below that, even CAT IIIB is useless. As to it not affecting GMG/Jet, it might well be a coincidence. Or maybe they don't have early morning schedules, which is when the fog situation is at its worst. Of course, GMG/Jet are also private airlines and hence more efficient than Air India, which is a Government owned entity. However, I don't think they arbitrarily cancel flights due to load factor. And there is no reason why equipment shortage will hit this route in particular more than others.

^^
While I do not remember Air India's flight schedule for Delhi-Dhaka, I don't think it was an early morning flight. Somehow, AI's reason for suspension of that schedule appears weak to me. We'll have to wait until February to see whether they resume the schedule.

^^AI was getting good load factor for DAC-DEL-LHR route. They were filling up good number of business class seats as well. Because of that they were operating B772 on this route.

This route has become certainly competitive recently with numerous middle eastern airlines operating from Dhaka offering excellent options for passengers originating/transferring from DAC. In addition, numerous NRB owned airlines are on the making. So, competition wise things will not be easy as days go by. I hope AI is not scared of competition. :shocked:

AI is also serving LHR-CCU-DAC, so dropping DEL-DAC route won't affect their passenger share in LHR-DAC route.

TIslam:

I misunderstood you - I thought you were referring to their suspension of the flight on a particular day. If they have suspended flights for the entire season, load factors may be a consideration. For a business entity, it makes sense to suspend flights with the lowest load factors.

Fog does impose capacity constraints on Delhi airport. Perhaps the situation will change with the commissioning of the second parallel runway in 2008, but until then, during fog season, the airport cannot handle its full load of flights (with an already saturated capacity for the existing two cross-runways). Hence, airlines including Air India have tried to rationalize their schedules on a temporary basis.

In the long run, I don't foresee that there would be a permanent curtailment of AI's services on the Delhi-Dhaka sector. There is considerable growth in traffic due to both medical and business travellers. An increase in capacity due to Jet/GMG may reduce AI's load factor on a temporary basis, but not in the long term.

Sorry about misunderstanding your point.

*Credits Various (Flickr)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/63/166242209_3f185f1220_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/23/28106369_282e5eb2b6_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/463126149_5c440162ba_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1438/632705254_a23d57aff7_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/463126151_6b562b3870_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/26/54730223_c8c80bb9f9_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/224/463126157_b8ef66a09f_o.jpg

Last but not least the VIP Lounge

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/463123255_5fa0cfe807_o.jpg

Will it be ever possible to see what the inside of ZIA's VIP lounge looks like, for us forum folks?

Sorry TIslam I am just a nobody in Bangladesh so I probably cant even enter.

Sorry TIslam I am just a nobody in Bangladesh so I probably cant even enter.

I don't think even press is allowed inside, otherwise, how come we have never seen it from the inside, on television? So, don't feel bad. It is only a wish of mine.:)

Dhaka Zia International Airport

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport171.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport170.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport172.jpg

highrises in Uttara are really close to the airport.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport174.jpg

I wonder what this aircraft is for......a cargo carrier?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport173.jpg

^^
How recently was this picture taken? Could it be GMG's leased 747? The aircraft is registered to Air Atlanta Icelandic, an aircraft leasing company.

I wonder what this aircraft is for......a cargo carrier?


Cargo aircraft will not use a boarding bridge.

Here is the history of the aircraft:

Boeing 747-312
REG OPB DATE COMMENTS

N117KC Singapore Airlines 1983-06-30
VH-INK Ansett Australia 1995-11-04 Leased
N117KC WTC 1998-12-23
F-GSEX Corsair 1999-10-05 Leased
TF-AMK Air Atlanta Icelandic 2005-10-09 Purchased


This is most likely chartered hajj flight. GMG is scheduled to take delivery of their 747 in February next year. I don't think they are ready yet for a 747.

This is most likely chartered hajj flight. GMG is scheduled to take delivery of their 747 in February next year. I don't think they are ready yet for a 747.

That could very well be, but Biman supposedly chartered a 747 from Australia for Hajj.

just to clarify; that all white 747 is actually leased by gmg but sub-leased to biman for hajj flights; once hajj flights r over that aircraft will be painted in gmg livery and delivered on feb. 18. the 737 is also being painted over eid holidays as it was required for immediate use for kl flights and could not be painted earlier. this is to clear up all the confusion.

^^
Pretty crafty on GMG's part to earn revenue prior their own use. Since you appear to be privy to GMG's inside information, please ask them to revamp their website. It is rather pathetic and badly out of date.

^^
Pretty crafty on GMG's part to earn revenue prior their own use. Since you appear to be privy to GMG's inside information, please ask them to revamp their website. It is rather pathetic and badly out of date.

ya I hope GMG improves it's website. It would be cool to see a 747 with GMG logo.

^^
Pretty crafty on GMG's part to earn revenue prior their own use. Since you appear to be privy to GMG's inside information, please ask them to revamp their website. It is rather pathetic and badly out of date.

What a coincidence!

I actually wrote about six months ago to their marketing guy to do this and change their site a la INDIGO -- a no-frills airline in India.

http://book.goindigo.in/skylights/cgi-bin/skylights.cgi

The outfits is India that do these sorts of website builds with redundant SQL/Mysql backend databases are pretty reasonable in cost too so I don't see what the big deal is.

GMG Airlines all set for Dubai-Dhaka service

GMG Airlines, the only private airline from Bangladesh operating on international routes, shall be endorsing its presence in Dubai by operating a daily flight, between Bangladesh and Dubai, with effect from February 1, 2008.

Commenting on the new service, Mr. Virendra Nautiyal, Executive Director, GMG Airlines, said: "We are pleased to announce our Dhaka- Dubai service. We are certain that our service will benefit thousands of expatriates from Bangladesh residing in the Gulf region. The service will also act as a catalyst to increase trading activities between Bangladesh and the GCC region"

He added: "Our Dubai-Dhaka service will also benefit Nepal and India bound travelers. We have connecting flights to Kathmandu and Kolkata respectively from Dhaka with in a short transit time."

GMG Airlines started its international operations in September 2004 with the Chittagong-Kolkata service. The airline has come a long way since its maiden international service in terms of adding new destinations and increasing frequencies of its services. Today, GMG Airlines connects Dhaka to Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu, Kolkata and Kuala Lumpur.

Reliability, on-time performance, flexibility to travel, safety, competitive fares, quality service at all passenger interaction points are the hallmark of GMG Airlines.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_pressreleases&view=detail&pr_id=10414&Itemid=77&ln=en

whatever happened to Best Aviation?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/bestaviation.jpg
this photo was taken at Cox's Bazar Airport

(A)Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Grounded eight GMG pilots for over duty.
www.amardesh.com
(B) CAAB will extand open sky policy one year more for Bangladesh's three international airports.
(C) GMG Declared that they are going to starts flying Dhaka Dubai flights weekly seven days but nothing is shown on its own website?????
(D) RAK Airways published that they are offering free bus service from Chittagong to Dhaka and when passengers phone them to know about it they did not answer them thier Dhaka office Phone number: 02 8917393 beware.....!!!
(F) Best Aviation Announced that they going to operate flights from 16th December........but they did not kept their words. how shame.
:banana::banana::banana:

When will best aviation start their service?
Acording to their website they already got their B737 this month.

How Keenair Charter (5Q) is operating service in regional routes, they are also useing B737?

http://www.bestairbd.com

http://www.flightstats.com

When will best aviation start their service?
Acording to their website they already got their B737 this month.

How Keenair Charter (5Q) is operating service in regional routes, they are also useing B737?

http://www.bestairbd.com

http://www.flightstats.com

WOW this is fantastic! according to their site one can fly now and pay later and this is all interest-FREE. Hopefully they can start their service soon.

Here are some pics from their site

http://www.bestairbd.com/photo_gallery/img01.jpg

http://www.bestairbd.com/photo_gallery/img02.jpg

http://www.bestairbd.com/photo_gallery/img03.jpg

http://www.bestairbd.com/photo_gallery/img04.jpg

http://www.bestairbd.com/photo_gallery/img05.jpg

http://www.bestairbd.com/photo_gallery/img06.jpg

http://www.bestairbd.com/photo_gallery/img07.jpg

http://www.bestairbd.com/photo_gallery/img08.jpg


http://www.bestairbd.com/images/team.jpg


Their site is much more user-friendly and detailed also the online reservation system seem to be working. You would think GMG, the leading private airline would have a better edge in creating a website thats more functional.

By the way thanks for the link Moin and welcome to the forum.

I was just checking flightstats.com, and it really looks very informative. Between 9 to 12am(4 hours), it lists 17 flights(18 including codeshare)!! Which is a lot considering DAC standard. Lots of charter service as well.

Btw, someone edited Bismillah Airline's wiki page either to have a fun or without any knowledge what so ever. Just look at their fleet list!!! Antonov 124, Ilyushin Il-76 ... lol

WOW this is fantastic! according to their site one can fly now and pay later and this is all interest-FREE. Hopefully they can start their service soon.

Does it mean they are currently operating as chater service? When will they launch regularly scheduled service? I wonder how are they going prevent fraud against the fly now pay later program? If it is successful BestAir could become the dominant carrier on the routes they operate.

Good luck and best wishes BestAir!

Extension of open sky policy sought
Star Business Report


A foreign airline, Air Asia X, a sister concern of Malaysia's AirAsia, yesterday urged the government to keep the open sky policy effective for another three months to take some two lakh Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia.

"We have already carried three thousand Bangladeshis on charter basis. But probably we would not be able to operate flights from the beginning of next year unless the government extends the open sky policy further," M Gunasekar, coordinator for Air Asia X charter flights, at a briefing in Dhaka.

The Bangladesh government's three-month open sky policy expires on December 31.

Air Asia X is the fourth airline that has taken the benefit of open sky policy after Air Arabia, RAK Airways and local private operator GMG Airlines, officials of Air Asia X said.

The Air Asia X that began its flight on December 3 from Bangladesh is the fourth carrier operating on Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur route. Biman Bangladesh Airlines (http://www.bimanair.com/), Malaysia Air Lines (http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/), GMG Airlines (http://www.gmgairlines.com/) are also operating on the same route, the officials told the briefing.

Gunasekar said five lakh Bangladeshi workers got visas from Malaysia. Of them, about three lakh have already reached Malaysia, he said.

"The shortage of seats in the regular carriers is still acute. More than 50,000 workers are already in the queue for getting a seat in any Malaysia-bound plane," Gunasekar said.

Noman Chowdhury, who helps Air Asia X to charter flights, also pointed to the flight crisis for Bangladeshis who have received job offers in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern countries.

The country's manpower exports has increased all time high in 2007. About 5 lakh workers left the country as of October 2007, against 3.8 lakh during the same period of 2006, according to manpower sources.

Earlier in September, thousands of workers had to postpone their scheduled travel amid flight shortages leading the government to follow open sky policy.

The government announced the open sky policy in three international airports of the country, hoping to clear up a backlog people who have jobs.

Bangladesh's airline market, which industry experts said is growing by 8 percent a year, has experienced the entry of a large number of local and international flight operators this year.

At least four international carriers-- Air Arabia (http://www.airarabia.com/), RAK Airways (http://www.rakairways.com/), Air Slovakia (http://www.airslovakia.sk/)and Air Asia (http://www.airasia.com/) X-- and two local airlines -- United Airways (http://www.uabdl.com/) and Anmole Albab Airlines (http://www.uabdl.com/) -- launched operations in Bangladesh during the past 12 months.

Best Air lauched !!

Yes, they are operating. Best Air's IATA code is 5Q *. Its appearing at
www.flightstats.com, its written as "Keenair Charter".


* http://www.ipsslgroup.com/serv-bestaviation.htm

Best Air lauched !!

Yes, they are operating. Best Air's IATA code is 5Q *. Its appearing at
www.flightstats.com, its written as "Keenair Charter".


* http://www.ipsslgroup.com/serv-bestaviation.htm

great news!! Is there any announcement in any of the newspapers?

Best Air lauched !!

Yes, they are operating. Best Air's IATA code is 5Q *. Its appearing at
www.flightstats.com, its written as "Keenair Charter".


* http://www.ipsslgroup.com/serv-bestaviation.htm

You sure they operating as a regularly scheduled airline and not as a charter service? Their website does not mention anything about when they launched their routes officially or when they are going to do so. Flightstats simply reports actual flights not their status. I think if BestAir operates regularly scheduled service, their flights would show up in:

http://flightinfobd.com/index.html

Notice that the new airlines schedules show up there, like Jet Airways, RAK, etc.

You sure they operating as a regularly scheduled airline and not as a charter service? Their website does not mention anything about when they launched their routes officially or when they are going to do so. Flightstats simply reports actual flights not their status. I think if BestAir operates regularly scheduled service, their flights would show up in:

http://flightinfobd.com/index.html

Notice that the new airlines schedules show up there, like Jet Airways, RAK, etc.

If they haven't started already I am sure the will start soon as they have already posted many job offers in Bangladeshi online job sites such as bdjobs.com (http://www.bdjobs.com/) They are looking for Flight Operations Officer, Cabin Crews and among more.

GMG is the only domestic airlines currently operating international routes. Bestair mainly operates cargo flights.

On a side note, GMG is having hard time keeping their schedule. I am only hearing bad things about that airlines lately. My experience was good however.

Best Air to launch 737s on domestic, international routes

Dhaka, Dec 29 (bdnews24.com) – Best Air is set to launch a fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft in Bangladesh on both domestic and international routes.

It will start flying its new aircraft from Jan 14 by operating a flight on the first scheduled Dhaka-Chittagong route, said Best Air chairman Haider Uzzaman.

In a news briefing held at Sonargaon Hotel, Haider pledged the aircraft would offer "the best service to passengers".

Farhad Hossain, head of marketing and sales, said: "Best Air plans to operate between Dhaka and domestic and international destinations, including Chittagong, Sylhet, Kolkata, Madras, Bangkok and Kunming."

The airline is equipped with a "multi-ethnic, versatile flight team" who will ensure the highest standards of safety, he added.

The fares would also be economical, Farhad said as the 737 is known for fuel-efficiency as well as environmental friendliness.

Best Aviation began operating in 1999 with private helicopter services in Bangladesh. It followed as a freighter airline from the year 2000, obtaining an air operator certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh.

http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=34009&cid=4

This is great new, although they didn't give a timeline for when they will start international flights.

Best air launching flight on 14 jan 2008.

http://www.jaijaidin.com/details.php?nid=47212

Open sky policy has been extended for one month.


http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=17240

GMG is the only domestic airlines currently operating international routes. Bestair mainly operates cargo flights.

On a side note, GMG is having hard time keeping their schedule. I am only hearing bad things about that airlines lately. My experience was good however.

Well, if GMG doesn't wish to be lumped with Biman, they better shape up. That means, whatever is necessary to maintain schedule and service quality: expand fleet, hire more staff, whatever.

Dhaka Zia International Airport

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport150-1.jpg

Boeing offers Biman eight new generation aircraft

At a time when urgent need of renewing fleet of Biman Bangladesh Airlines is being strongly felt, Boeing has offered eight aircraft. During the rule of immediate past elected government both Boeing and Airbus made a number of offers for new generation aircraft for Biman's fleet renewal. Finally the airline received no aircraft. In late November 2007 Being has made a new offer. Main features of the offer are : Four brand-new Boeing B777-200ER aircraft to be delivered from 2013, with options for two more.

Four brand-new Boeing B787-8 aircraft to be delivered from 2017, with options for two more. Four Boeing B777-200ER aircraft to be on lease from 2009-2013 for Biman's interim capacity requirement. Four Boeing B787-8 aircraft to be on lease from 2011-2017 for Biman's interim capacity requirement.

Biman will be required to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by January 15, 2008 and the firm contract by February 15, 2008.

According to the offer one per cent of the order value to be paid upon order placement and five per cent of the order value to be paid in 6-monthly installments, starting from 24 months prior to the delivery of first aircraft.

To avail the financing for the aircraft from ExIm Bank of the US, the government of Bangladesh (GoB) will be required to provide sovereign guarantee or sign the Cape Town Convention and its Aircraft Protocol.

http://www.bangladeshmonitor.net/aviation_story.php?recordID=1276

Biman undecided over four Boeing planes

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has yet to make up its mind on buying four aircraft from Boeing Co, reports bdnews24.com.

The struggling flag airline's board is weighing up a proposal it received from the Chigaco-based aircraft manufacturing giant some one month back for sale of commercial aircraft.

"The Biman board of directors has not yet made a decision on buying four aircraft from the Boeing Company. However, the proposal from Boeing to sell planes is still on," Biman Managing Director MA Momen told the news agency.

Momen said the state-controlled airline, hamstrung by an aircraft crunch, needs to add new aircraft to its ageing fleet on an emergency basis for survival.

A high Biman official on condition of anonymity said a Boeing team visited Bangladesh on November 28 and proposed to sell 12 planes but Biman showed interest to buy four from the world's second-largest commercial plane maker.

The Boeing has offered to sell 12 new and old planes including wide-body jets Boeing 787 and the 777.

The US plane maker has told Biman that it can supply the planes by 2011 if a deal is reached.

Biman sources said an emergency meeting of the board of directors held on November 28 to discuss the Boeing proposal ended inconclusively.

A final decision on purchase of new aircraft would be made after getting the opinion of Biman's committee on aircraft purchase, they said.

Biman floated an international tender for lease-purchase of four wide-bodied aircraft five months back without response. Biman is now trying to reach an agreement directly with the aircraft manufacturer.

Biman plans to buy new aircraft with bank loan and sell out old planes in phases, the sources added.

A source said five DC-10-30s, four Airbus 310-300s and as many F-28s in its current fleet are 15 to 25 years old and these planes often get grounded even with small technical faults.

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/search_index.php?page=detail_news&news_id=21613

^^ I thought when Biman was turned into a public limited company this summer, they would be able to make decisions quite fast and turn the company around. I guess somethings just doesn't change.

United Airways' more flights from next month
Suspension of flights for today, tomorrow

Amid increased customer demands, United Airways (BD) is planning to raise the number of its flights on domestic routes early next month by adding another aircraft to its fleet.

"We are adding a new aircraft considering the increased demands from our passengers. We are hopeful to put the new aircraft in operation by February 1," said Md Kamrul Islam, a spokesman of the private airline that started off with a single Dash 8-100 aircraft on July 10 last year.

Meanwhile, all flights of the carrier will remain suspended today and tomorrow for maintenance work.

"We will conduct a maintenance programme during the period. We will resume our regular operations on Tuesday, Islam said.

The carrier, a venture of the Non-resident Bangladeshis, is now operating three flights to Chittagong, two flights to Sylhet, one flight to Jessore daily and three flights to Cox's Bazar a week, according to a press release.

"We will soon announce five flights to Chittagong, three flights to Sylhet, two flights to Jessore, and one to Cox's Bazar, Barisal and Rajshahi," Islam said.

"We have already carried 35,000 passengers operating 1600 flights in the last six months," he said.

The company earlier said it had invested Tk 50 crore in the aviation sector.

With the Tk 100 crore authorised capital, the company has plans to invest Tk 2000 crore over the next five years in the business, according to its Chairman and Managing Director Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=17994

^^
Such is the problem in the subcontinent and perhaps thanks is owed to the 200 years colonial rule where they created clerks not managers.

It makes no operational difference whether a state (government) owned entity is a PLC or whatever. The so-called managers simply do not have the authority or the ability to make decisions and execute them, unless and until they are okayed from the ministry that effectively controls it. The CTG is no different in such mindset.

I wonder what this Euro Atlantic aircraft is doing at Dhaka Airport?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/2171044897_ffd16a30e7_b.jpg

what about this one?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2171043987_b53fb47849_b.jpg

^^
Must be the 767 leased by GMG for their ME operations. Euro Atlantic is a leasing company. This aircraft by previously leased by Air India. I wonder why GMG leases aircrafts without their company livery. Do the leasing companies charge extra for that or do they provide such a discount to forgo that they find too good to refuse?

The 737 from Globespan is the same case. Although the aircraft has already been pressed into service by GMG, the aircraft continues to sport the lessor's paint scheme. Free advertisement for the leasing companies, I'd say!

Sylhet Airport

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/Dhaka/Dhaka1/Dhaka2/sylhetairport20.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/Dhaka/Dhaka1/Dhaka2/sylhetairport21.jpg

Dhaka Zia International Airport

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport90-1.jpg

United, Biman, PIA and Saudia Airlines
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport91-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport92-1.jpg

The domestic terminal

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/dhakaairport89.jpg

I wonder what this Euro Atlantic aircraft is doing at Dhaka Airport?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/2171044897_ffd16a30e7_b.jpg

what about this one?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2171043987_b53fb47849_b.jpg

Tmac, when is the EuroAtlantic a/c photographed in Dhaka? I know Air India is currently using -- as it has previously used -- 767s to Dhaka. Could this a/c have been the one leased to AI? Or is it GMG's new one, although did not think GMG's 767s were ready yet.

Best,

Planemannyc / Wasim

I assume the pictures of Osmani International are recent. If so, where are the (aero) broading bridges? I thought a big expansion project was going on at Sylhet.

^^My few comments....

Nice to see United grow. There was a news here stating that they were struggling. Their plan to add another Dash certainly shows the growth.

Regarding Biman, it's backbone is completely broken. Whatever Boeing was offering required financial guarantee by the govt. And ordering all those planes would cost billions. The govt. cannot and should not take any financial responsibility of this airlines. Biman should try to figure out a way to stay alive of it's own or die. Govt./the people have carried out way too much burden for this airlines. It's time to let it go.

Plus, it's not a good idea to be all Airbus or Boeing airlines. In such scenario the airlines loose it's bargaining power.

The picture of the Sylhet airport looks like anything but international. That city deserves an airport way better that this!

Best Air opens sales office at Gulshan

Best Air, a new private airline, has opened its sales office at Gulshan in the city and started booking of tickets for customers.

The company will initially start its operation from January 14 with Boeing 737, the first ever in Bangladesh, that has a capacity of 118 passengers through a flight from Dhaka to Chittagong.

Best Air operates modern ticket system for the satisfaction of its customers, said M Haider Uzzaman, chairman of Best Air, while inaugurating the company's sales office Tuesday.

The Boeing 737 is the most sought-after passenger-carrier aircraft of all times, he added.

"Our plan is to operate flights between Dhaka and other domestic and international destinations including Chittagong, Sylhet, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangkok and Kunming, international trade port of China'', he added.

Tickets will also be available at Best Air's corporate office at Baridhara, Zia International AirPort and its Chittagong city office at Agrabad.

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/search_index.php?page=detail_news&news_id=21971

Osmani needs a paint job

Govt mulls allowing budget carriers at ZIA

The government is considering allowing low-cost carriers to operate from Zia International Airport (ZIA) in response to demands from airlines to open up the capital's airport for competition.

According to experts, such a move would benefit passengers as it would bring down ticket prices and improve services.

"We are working on it. We have asked the stakeholders, especially representatives from the private sector to submit their opinions," a senior official of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism said.

Market players said the 20 or so carriers in operation from Dhaka at the moment are what are called 'legacy carriers'. These are the carriers that include business class, lounges, frequent flyer programmes, alliances and in-flight services such as food and beverages.

At present, there is no airline offering low-cost travel from Dhaka, the official said.

However the low cost airliner Air Arabia has been operating out of Chittagong's Shah Amanat International Airport since June 2007. Air Arabia is now asking to start flights out of Dhaka.

"We are now operating from Chittagong offering cheaper fares to travellers. If we are allowed to operate from Dhaka, we could help save foreign currencies earned by Bangladeshis working in the Middle East," said Abdur Rahim of One World Aviation, Bangladesh, the sales agent of Air Arabia here.

Zia International Airport, according to the national encyclopedia of Bangladesh-BANGLAPEDIA, witnesses the bulk of passenger arrivals and departures. Chittagong airport, the second largest one, handles only around 17 percent of passengers.

Air transport demand will grow at about 7.5 percent a year on an average till 2010, it said.

Imran Asif, an aviation industry consultant, said the government should permit any type of airline to operate from Dhaka to encourage competition and improve services provided by the airliners.

"As a customer, we have the right to choose. Low cost carriers are operating across the globe. Why not in our country? Those who want to travel at cheaper prices, they will go," he said.

"Competition will definitely improve the standard of services being offered," he said, adding that the government should treat both local and international carriers equally.

MA Muhaimin Saleh, president of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh, however, said: "If the existing airlines cut their fares, there is no need for low-cost carriers here."

"The only merit is its cheaper price," he said, "It has no in-flight services and it doesn't offer any commission to travel agents."

He however suggested facilitating local airlines to save foreign currencies.

http://thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=18435

Govt mulls allowing budget carriers at ZIA
"The only merit is its cheaper price," he said, "It has no in-flight services and it doesn't offer any commission to travel agents."

He however suggested facilitating local airlines to save foreign currencies.


And therein lies the truth for this gentleman's argument against. If I can get the same ticket price directly from the airline, who needs a travel agent? And pray tell how does the government "facilitate" local airlines. It facilitated Biman, which ran itself into the ground. A travel agent just trying to protect his turf.

I see no real justification, not to allow LCCs to operate from ZIA.

The third Bangladeshi privet Air Lines "Best Air" going to starts their regular flights from January 14th 2007 from Dhaka to Chittagong.
It is good for Chittagong travellers that they can choose from more than one airline Biman, GMG, United and now Best Air to back and forth to Chittagong the Port city of Bangladesh.


:cheers:

If there are any problem to operating Low cost airlines from ZIA then why not GOB and CAAB permit them to operate from Chittagong I think it will makes reduce pressure on Dhaka ZIA Airport and at the same time Chittagong Airport will help more to the nation. by the end the goverment and people both will getting benifits from that.

If there are any problem to operating Low cost airlines from ZIA then why not GOB and CAAB permit them to operate from Chittagong I think it will makes reduce pressure on Dhaka ZIA Airport and at the same time Chittagong Airport will help more to the nation. by the end the goverment and people both will getting benifits from that.

Two points:

I. I still believe a majority of travellers are located in Dhaka. If I quote correctly from the article on the business page of The Daily Star this morning, Shah Amanat Airport in Ctg carries only 17% of the total volume here in BD. The rest of the entire burden is on Dhaka. If we take the example of Air Arabia (which of course will start flights from Dhaka) to travel to the Middle East, what about the additional cost of the travelling to Chittagong from Dhaka for the average traveller coming from Dhaka? Defeats the entire purpose of traveling with a low-cost carrier.

II. ZIA in Dhaka has absolutely no pressure. In fact, it needs a greater number of flights for its staff to wake up to reality and become more efficient.

Does anyone have any pictures of Best Air?

The third Bangladeshi privet Air Lines "Best Air" going to starts their regular flights from January 14th 2007 from Dhaka to Chittagong.
It is good for Chittagong travellers that they can choose from more than one airline Biman, GMG, United and now Best Air to back and forth to Chittagong the Port city of Bangladesh.


:cheers:

Hajj flights? Interesting to see all these "strange" airlines on BD soil ...

I wonder what this Euro Atlantic aircraft is doing at Dhaka Airport?

Does anyone have any pictures of Best Air?

Looked through the thread. There are pictures of BestAir couples of pages back.

My 11th article related to aviation, and the first for New Age, was published on 7th January, 2008. This one was on the incompetency and corruption at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).

Should you have the interest, and the time, here's the link:
http://www.newagebd.com/2008/jan/07/oped.html

Thanks!

My 11th article related to aviation, and the first for New Age, was published on 7th January, 2008. This one was on the incompetency and corruption at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).

Should you have the interest, and the time, here's the link:
http://www.newagebd.com/2008/jan/07/oped.html

Thanks!

It is not enough to publish articles in newspapers. Should you care passionately about civil aviation in Bangladesh, I urge you to forward your writings to various bodies of the caretaker government, including the office of the chief adviser, and ACC. Perhaps they'll look into the problems before they leave office because once they leave, I fear it'll be more of the back to business as usual.

It is not enough to publish articles in newspapers. Should you care passionately about civil aviation in Bangladesh, I urge you to forward your writings to various bodies of the caretaker government, including the office of the chief adviser, and ACC. Perhaps they'll look into the problems before they leave office because once they leave, I fear it'll be more of the back to business as usual.

Begun doing that about 2 weeks ago, just didn't think it'd be wise to detail that here to adhere to the confidentiality issues advised to me. Give me about 3 months, and let me see if I can be of any good. In the In the meantime, keep all your ideas coming in!

Begun doing that about 2 weeks ago, just didn't think it'd be wise to detail that here to adhere to the confidentiality issues advised to me. Give me about 3 months, and let me see if I can be of any good. In the In the meantime, keep all your ideas coming in!

great to hear that Asif. Keep it up. Let us know if you hear back from them.

great to hear that Asif. Keep it up. Let us know if you hear back from them.

I will keep everyone posted here of all developments through this blog. Please do keep filling me in with your own thoughts and opinions - I mean every one of you here with a passion for the commercial aviation in Bangladesh. I am reachable at: imran.asif@gmail.com

My 11th article related to aviation, and the first for New Age, was published on 7th January, 2008. This one was on the incompetency and corruption at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).

Should you have the interest, and the time, here's the link:
http://www.newagebd.com/2008/jan/07/oped.html

Thanks!

That article was really informative and an eye opener. Although the corrupt practices of CAAB was no secret, I did not know about the shaby condition of ZIA ATC. Proper communication between the ATC and the pilot is the main element of airline safety. But without sufficient knowledge of english just wondering how they are running their day to day business. So when our govt will take note of this issue.......after a disaster like tenerife or a mid air collision!!!!!! I hope not. Again thank you for the article, keep'em coming.

Within this month two airlines going join Bangladeshi aviation market:ohno:
source: channel I news desk.
there are alot of gossip ....................no body know the real things.:bash:

Aviation market sizzles amid concerns over profitability

The battle for the country's aviation market heats up as the country's fourth airline launches its domestic operation today (Monday).

Best Aviation, majority controlled by Kuwait's Aqeeq Aviation Holding, starts its commercial flights between the capital Dhaka and port city of Chittagong, with an objective of grabbing the major share of the aviation market, its spokesman Titu Siddiqui said.

"We will have 14 flights a week in the Dhaka-Chittagong route and our tickets will cost at least 15 per cent less than our main competitors," Siddiqui said.

The civil aviation authority also granted Sunday the Best Aviation the permission to fly to Indian city of Chennai, south China city of Kunming and Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, he said.

"We hope with the 118-seaters two Boeing 737-200 aircraft, we can give better services than any of our competitors," he added.

The move is the first major push by the Kuwait-based Aqeeq to grab the rapidly expanding Bangladesh's aviation market.

The company bought 70 per cent of Best Airways, formerly a cargo operator, for nine million dollars in March last year and has transformed it into a passenger airline.

It has already leased one Boeing 737-200 aircraft and add another to its fleet on January 15.

It will also procure two 65-seater SQ-64 aircraft from Japan and another two Boeing 747 by the end of this year to operate long haul international flights.

Best will be the fourth airline to start operation in the country, after the state-owned Biman, GMG and the newly launched United Airlines.

The sudden explosion in the airlines market comes after the national carrier Bangladesh Biman cut its number of domestic flights to half and winds up at least half a dozen international flights.

Biman had to downsize its operation as it incurred a loss of around 100 million dollars in the year ending June 2007. It also reported a record loss of 120 million dollars in the previous fiscal.

Two more airlines, the Royal Bengal and the Anmol Albab, have yet to start their operation, although their licenses were okayed by the civil aviation authority.

An analyst said the entry of Best would over-crowd the country's domestic aviation market, while the 'lack of slots' would hinder the local airlines' expansion abroad.

"I don't think right at this stage we have any domestic aviation market as every operator is incurring huge losses. The market is growing at a dismal rate of five per cent a year," said independent aviation analyst Imran Asif.

"Even in the international market, only the far east and the middle east look lucrative, with annual 10 per cent growth in passengers. But there is hardly any frequencies available for the new airlines," he said.

The country's new airlines can profit only when the government revises its air services deals with some major destination countries and then allots more flying slots to the new airlines, he added.

At present, foreign airlines own some 90 per cent of the country's nearly one billion dollar international market, with Biman and GMG filling up the rest.

Usually domestic operators own 40-50 per cent of international traffic in a country, Asif said, adding the civil aviation authority in Bangladesh should work towards that goal.

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/search_index.php?page=detail_news&news_id=22512

That article was really informative and an eye opener. Although the corrupt practices of CAAB was no secret, I did not know about the shaby condition of ZIA ATC. Proper communication between the ATC and the pilot is the main element of airline safety. But without sufficient knowledge of english just wondering how they are running their day to day business. So when our govt will take note of this issue.......after a disaster like tenerife or a mid air collision!!!!!! I hope not. Again thank you for the article, keep'em coming.

Well, I have been told by 4 pilots (2 from Biman and 2 from 2 other airlines operating into Dhaka) that they all received TCAS alerts while descending into Bangladeshi airspace from the Indian airspace. All 4 of these incidents happened within the past 5 months. Reportedly, the ATC at ZIA was too busy speaking to the overflying traffic and inquiring some rather unnecessary info from them (such as the pilots' hours, etc.) while the inbound descending aircraft were seeking frequency to speak to. TCAS alerts usually gives a pilot between 4-12 seconds to react depending of the rate of closure between the 2 aircraft. Ours must be God's favourite airspace!

BTW, Tenerife had a lot more than just the controllers at fault. It involved the radio communication technology at that time, low visibility, and most importantly the issue of undue over-confidence of highly experienced pilots. The KLM Captain was the airlines' most experienced and indeed the chief of flight training at the airline!

^^ As far as I know, communication equipment in ZIA is very outdated, so much so that CAAB has raised serious concern to the govt on a number of occasions. Equipment at ZIA are pretty much from the early 80's when the airport was commenced. I think with Danish govt. assistance they were thinking about upgrading the equipments, but that may have gone into freezer similar to many other projects/initiatives..

^^ As far as I know, communication equipment in ZIA is very outdated, so much so that CAAB has raised serious concern to the govt on a number of occasions. Equipment at ZIA are pretty much from the early 80's when the airport was commenced. I think with Danish govt. assistance they were thinking about upgrading the equipments, but that may have gone into freezer similar to many other projects/initiatives..

The original equipment at ZIA are from Thomson (which later became Thales, if I'm not mistaken). These ATC system was horribly outdated and the radar hardware are still barely functional. The last political govt. sat on the offer from Denmark simply because they couldn't have made any money for themselves out of the improvement. Last I heard, the Danish offer was finally accepted but the work started off (not certain if it is still ongoing or stalled) very slow.

The bottomline is ZIA urgently requires an efficient ATC system along with a dependable pair of Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR) and a supplementing Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar (MSSR) to ensure safe operation of flights. Another imperative requirement is to train the controllers adequately to handle commercial flights, and then pay them well enough to do their job right.

Well, I have been told by 4 pilots (2 from Biman and 2 from 2 other airlines operating into Dhaka) that they all received TCAS alerts while descending into Bangladeshi airspace from the Indian airspace. All 4 of these incidents happened within the past 5 months. Reportedly, the ATC at ZIA was too busy speaking to the overflying traffic and inquiring some rather unnecessary info from them (such as the pilots' hours, etc.) while the inbound descending aircraft were seeking frequency to speak to. TCAS alerts usually gives a pilot between 4-12 seconds to react depending of the rate of closure between the 2 aircraft. Ours must be God's favourite airspace!


Why is it that incompetence is the middle name all things Bangladesh, in Bangladesh? The same folks behave and operate in the absolute opposite, once they are outside the country!

Well thank God, Bangladesh airspace is a very small one and even then the major air routes/FIRs are under Kolkata Control for passing through Bangladesh. When I was growing up in Bangladesh, I had the hobby of listening to ATC chatter over HF (on regular short shave radio). One could tell by the way CCU ATC spoke, they were professionals. It was quite the opposite for DAC ATC. Of course DAC ATC could be heard very little. Mostly CCU and RGN. As a kid, I also happen to visit Tejgoan control tower. I remember that while the atmosphere was quite business like it wasn't quite professional, because in the the control tower, I noticed the Bangalee habit of banter among controllers.

:nuts:

M Haider Uzzaman, chairman of Best Aviation Ltd, the owning company of Best Air, inaugurates the airline's domestic passenger flight on Dhaka-Chittagong route at Zia International Airport in the capital yesterday. PHOTO: Best Air
Local airline Best Air yesterday started its passenger flights as the fourth carrier on the country's domestic route with the aim to launch international flights by the end of February.

The airline's Boeing 737-200 landed on Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong after taking off from Zia International Airport in Dhaka.

“We aim to offer unique services to our customers. We will also offer competitive fares,” said M Haider Uzzaman, chairman of Best Aviation Ltd, the owning company of Best Air, after aircraft landed on Chittagong airport.

The carrier will operate four flights on Dhaka-Chittagong route everyday. Flights from Dhaka will depart at 8am and 7pm while at 9.30am and 8.30pm from Chittagong.

The operator fixed the one-way airfare at Tk 3,900, offering escort services to passengers and individual choice of meals onboard.

Sylhet would be the airline's second domestic destination from early February, Haider said, adding that the carrier aimed at starting flights on international routes by the end of February this year.

“We are proud that the government has given us permission to operate flights in four other countries as the third designated carrier from Bangladesh,” he said. The countries are China, Malaysia, India and Thailand.

At present, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and private carrier GMG Airlines are operating as Bangladesh's designated carriers on international routes.

^^ Tk 3,900 seems like a good rate. Anyways all the best to this new Airline.

^^Good to see them being able to start. I wish them all the best.

Although inaugural flight was hour and half delayed due to mishaps caused by their ground staff.:cheers:

Although inaugural flight was hour and half delayed due to mishaps caused by their ground staff.:cheers:

This is just the beginning. The 737-200 and its P&W JT8D engines would be extremely difficult to maintain and to find spares for. The last major operator of the type was Delta (Delta Express) and they found it difficult to keep these birds flying in the US, where you have greater engineering and spares sources available.

Just like GMG found operating the MD-82s very, very difficult (cost and mx wise) and I believe they returned one of the two already.

The principle I'd advise for any airline start-up in Bangladesh, from my little knowledge, is: start small if you can't afford to start as large as you'd like, but be CERTAIN to start EFFICIENT! 'Efficiency' is the name of the game in airline business (unless you're in Africa, who by the way, are also improving of late!).

This thread has just become the most informative location for all Bangladeshi aviation related with the arrival of Imran bhai!! Many thanks for your professional opinions on this topic. Hope you will continue to "hang around" :)

its nice to see these posts.

the 737-200 is a very very poor in fuel efficiency; in fact on a per-seat basis, it is not even 50% as fuel efficient as the Dash 8 on domestic routes. Based on its fare structure on domestic routes, it will not even be able to cover its fuel costs operating 100% load-factor. The load factors on the domestic sector are not very high; in fact the market in terms of dollar revenue is very small. I highly doubt the viablity in running the 737-200 range; even the -300 range or -500 range if not the Next Gen. range (600,700,800) would have been a lot more fuel efficient. Spare parts are the biggest issue in Bangladesh; a. the government imposes 10% import duty, and b. the customs clearance procedures are very timely. These must all be taken into account in operations. GMG had some trouble in spares, now the situation has improved as it has been able to stock up on spares; it operates 2 MD82s still (which are far far more fuel efficient than 737-200s), as well as a Boeing 737-800 and 747-300.

its nice to see these posts.

the 737-200 is a very very poor in fuel efficiency; in fact on a per-seat basis, it is not even 50% as fuel efficient as the Dash 8 on domestic routes.

Can't be all that bad. India's Blue Dart Aviation (India's UPS/FedEx) uses 737-200s. But in the end, "the proof is in the pudding", as the saying goes. All these startups shall learn over the long run that you can't run an airline by the seats of the pants, anymore you can the planes, in today's world. The key to success is right management and strategy.

This thread has just become the most informative location for all Bangladeshi aviation related with the arrival of Imran bhai!! Many thanks for your professional opinions on this topic. Hope you will continue to "hang around" :)

You are welcome! I expect to "hang around" until I get "hung up" by certain industry people who are apparently not very fond of me and my sayings!

Can't be all that bad. India's Blue Dart Aviation (India's UPS/FedEx) uses 737-200s. But in the end, "the proof is in the pudding", as the saying goes. All these startups shall learn over the long run that you can't run an airline by the seats of the pants, anymore you can the planes, in today's world. The key to success is right management and strategy.

It is actually worse! You can't really compare Best Air's position with Blue Dart with the B737-200s because:

1. Blue Dart is an express freight carrier, meaning that its customers pay a premium price than ordinary cargo, and that extra money helps!

2. If I'm not mistaken, Blue Dart took their B737-200s from Alliance Air (the subsidiary of the then Indian Airlines consisting of IC's classic 737s only) along with a substantial spares package. Indian carriers, over decades, had grown their own expertise on the 737-200s to maintain them. Best Air is certain to send theirs back to Thailand/Indonesia for heavy mx (C & D at least), and from what I know, Best Air has only taken some line spares for these 737-200s.

3. Cargo/freight airplanes have much easier (and less-costlier) mx regulations to follow than ones meant for pax services. In many airplanes, "Time-Between-Overhaul" (TBO) of many components are much spaced apart if they're used for cargo rather than pax, thus directly affecting mx costs over a long period of usage of the aircraft.

4. The Dash-8s (even the "classic" ones, ie. non-Q series) have a far lower seat-mile cost than the B737-200. The rule of thumb is, for any mission under 400 nautical miles, turboprops are more efficient than jets. With the rising prices of jet fuel, this is even stronger a theory, and is just the reason why Bombardier and ATR have seen a surge of orders in recent years.

Thats my 2 cents!

It is actually worse! You can't really compare Best Air's position with Blue Dart with the B737-200s because:


Well the, Best Air shall soon find out won't they? If turboprops far more economical for under 400 nm, how come major US carriers are eliminating their turboprops in favor of CRJs and ERJs? By now most of Northwest's (Mesaba) turboprops are gone.

This is just the beginning. The 737-200 and its P&W JT8D engines would be extremely difficult to maintain and to find spares for. The last major operator of the type was Delta (Delta Express) and they found it difficult to keep these birds flying in the US, where you have greater engineering and spares sources available.

Just like GMG found operating the MD-82s very, very difficult (cost and mx wise) and I believe they returned one of the two already.

The principle I'd advise for any airline start-up in Bangladesh, from my little knowledge, is: start small if you can't afford to start as large as you'd like, but be CERTAIN to start EFFICIENT! 'Efficiency' is the name of the game in airline business (unless you're in Africa, who by the way, are also improving of late!).


so is this airline setting itself up for failure? Why so many domestic airlines? Surely the domestic market in Bangladesh is not big enough for 3/4 airlines to survive.

so is this airline setting itself up for failure? Why so many domestic airlines? Surely the domestic market in Bangladesh is not big enough for 3/4 airlines to survive.

I don't think these start ups are really interested in the domestic market. Their real interest is in the regional and international routes however, while I may incorrect, the government won't allow any player unless they service the domestic sector, first. I don't think anybody can make real money just by flying internal routes.

Well the, Best Air shall soon find out won't they? If turboprops far more economical for under 400 nm, how come major US carriers are eliminating their turboprops in favor of CRJs and ERJs? By now most of Northwest's (Mesaba) turboprops are gone.

Hundreds of city pairs in the US has SUBSTANTIAL TRAFFIC to justify mid-size jets instead to turboprops (even in sectors under 150nm). Another aspect is number of DAILY FREQUENCIES within a city pair, which is where the turboprops can't keep up because of their lower cruising speeds. Now, if you had say 5,000 pax a day between DAC-CGP, you could operate even larger jets than the 737-200 and keep them shuttling in between the cities all day long.

Northwest, the example you cited, still operates DC-9s (over 100 of them) and makes money from them because those aircraft are fully "paid-for". Besides, their domestic network feeds pax for the intl operations, and their yield management is designed to compensate for comparataively inefficient feeder flights. The same is true for AA and their huge MD-80 fleet, which by the way is now getting slowly replaced by the 737-800s.

so is this airline setting itself up for failure? Why so many domestic airlines? Surely the domestic market in Bangladesh is not big enough for 3/4 airlines to survive.

I have only 'logical' doubts about the feasibility AND the intent of United, Royal Bengal Airlines, and Best Air. And then I have some degree of inside info on all of these 3 which makes my apprehensions stronger. I'll not elaborate those info here because I don't want to force people think my way. I hope for the best for all of them, but will have to see them in service for 3 years to get myself proven wrong.

As you correctly said, the domestic market in BD is not (and does not promise to be in the future) large enough for even 3 carriers. Take DAC-CGP for example, and compare the "time-burden" and "cost" of travelling by road/rail and by air. The end result will be that people who will have enough "relative value" for saving 2-3 hours for 4x the cost will be the poeple who'll travel by air.

I don't think these start ups are really interested in the domestic market. Their real interest is in the regional and international routes however, while I may incorrect, the government won't allow any player unless they service the domestic sector, first. I don't think anybody can make real money just by flying internal routes.

There used to be a regulation as such that before a local airline would apply for intl routes, it'd have to operate on domestic sectors for 6 months to prove its capabilities. That regulation is no more (it was a horrible one anyway). The local airlines can now apply to operate intl flights from day one. But the point is, neither CAAB can allow, nor the airlines can just start flying on intl routes unless (i) the proposition can be accommodated under the current set of air service agreements, or (ii) the air service agreements are amended to accommodate the proposition. Most of the air service agreements that BD has with other nations (i) are often too old and outdated, (ii) only allows BG from Bangladesh in reciprocacy, and (iii) has 'impractical' freedom rights, and points (intermediate and beyond).

Only time will tell who will survive, and how!

This thread has become very informative, enjoyable and addictive to follow....
Thanks a lot to everyone contributing, and lets keep it rolling. :okay:

United airways is adding their second Dash8-100 this February. Unlike BestAir, United didn't express their interest in operating international flights. Wonder what their future plan is with their fleet?
Best air made it's way in airliners.net forum as well!! Check it out:http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/3794503/

Bangladesh, Kenya to operate flights in each other's territory

Selected airlines of Bangladesh and Kenya will operate flights in each other's territory under an air service agreement signed yesterday between Bangladesh government and the east African country.

“This is the first ever agreement with any African country. We hope it will bring a win-win situation for both the countries,” said Air Commodore Sakeb Iqbal Khan Majlis, chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).

The CAAB chairman and Acting Deputy Director (Air Transport) of Kenya's transport ministry Benjamin K Enyenze signed the deal on behalf of their countries, while Secretary to Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Shaikh Altaf Ali was present.

Under the deal, the countries will run five flights a week on reciprocal basis, and two designated airlines from each country will be allowed to operate, Sakeb Iqbal said.

This is the 45th bilateral air transport agreement signed by Bangladesh with other countries.

Bangladesh's aviation industry has so far witnessed entry of five international carriers into the country due to increase in the movement of both inbound and outbound passengers, especially of expatriate Bangladeshi workers.

According to Bangladesh's national encyclopaedia Banglapedia, Air transport demand will grow on an average at 7.5 percent a year until 2010.

Experts said market assessment of the countries concerned is needed before signing any air service agreement.

“Any such agreement is good. But if it is done without assessing the markets then it would be detrimental,” said Imran Asif, an aviation industry consultant.

The CAAB chairman said Biman Bangladesh Airlines has initially assessed the value of the markets.

According to the agreement, two designated airlines from Kenya will operate from the airports in Dhaka and Chittagong, while two airlines from Bangladesh will fly from any points of Kenya, the CAAB chairman said.

He said the flights from Kenya may be allowed to land at an intermediate point for refueling, not for taking passengers from there.

The intermediate points will be fixed later, he added.

MA Muhaimin Saleh, chairman of National Travel Bureau, the sales agent of Kenya Airways in Bangladesh, said the agreement would open the gateway to Central and West Africa.

“Bangladeshi expatriates in Central and West African countries as well as peacekeepers will be benefitted from the flights,” he said.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=19595

Bangladesh, Kenya to operate flights in each other's territory

The CAAB chairman said Biman Bangladesh Airlines has initially assessed the value of the markets.




Pretty bizarre of him saying that! Biman Bangladesh Airlines is an independent entity (albeit state-owned) and is not a part of CAAB. The assessment is fundamentally a task of CAAB and the Ministry, and not for any local airline, including Biman.

Pretty bizarre of him saying that! Biman Bangladesh Airlines is an independent entity (albeit state-owned) and is not a part of CAAB. The assessment is fundamentally a task of CAAB and the Ministry, and not for any local airline, including Biman.

That is because in many ways countries like Bangladesh are like former communist/socialist countries. They may have fancy names of departments with supposed delineated functions but in reality they are part of the same. Biman may have been made into a corporation in theory, but in practice, it is a government body. It is going a bit too far though, for CAAB to speak for the private airlines.

^^ Well Biman's Board of Directors are all from different ministries and other govt's organizations(thats why they still can't make speedy decisions). Also the Managing director is still the same person even before Biman became a corporate body. The only way to bring accountability to Biman is to at least semi-privatize the company so the Board of Directors can be re-shuffled. And as for CAAB, they should be only be doing their job (regulating the aviation industry) they shouldn't favor any airline over another.

^^ Well Biman's Board of Directors are all from different ministries and other govt's organizations(thats why they still can't make speedy decisions). Also the Managing director is still the same person even before Biman became a corporate body. The only way to bring accountability to Biman is to at least semi-privatize the company so the Board of Directors can be re-shuffled. And as for CAAB, they should be only be doing their job (regulating the aviation industry) they shouldn't favor any airline over another.

The basic solution is simple: let the Board of Directors to act as the 'policy board' and the Board of Executive Directors as the 'management board'. Of course, Biman would also need to do away with the bureaucrats from its Board of Directors and have it comprised of professionals from different trades which may be related to the overall industry of aviation (banking, accounting, management, etc.). But then as the saying goes "easier said than done"...especially in Bangladesh!

PS: Optimists are welcome to join me in the club of good hopes!

The basic solution is simple: let the Board of Directors to act as the 'policy board' and the Board of Executive Directors as the 'management board'. Of course, Biman would also need to do away with the bureaucrats from its Board of Directors and have it comprised of professionals from different trades which may be related to the overall industry of aviation (banking, accounting, management, etc.). But then as the saying goes "easier said than done"...especially in Bangladesh!

PS: Optimists are welcome to join me in the club of good hopes!

That would be too logical and reasonable! Show me any sector corporation that is run efficiently, let alone Biman! Bangladesh is a place where the joke, how many "......" does it take to change a light blub? Fill in the blanks to the field/profession of your choice, and it fits!

While the rest of the world is moving ahead in hypersonic speed, we just sit in a corner and think about it.

That would be too logical and reasonable! Show me any sector corporation that is run efficiently, let alone Biman! Bangladesh is a place where the joke, how many "......" does it take to change a light blub? Fill in the blanks to the field/profession of your choice, and it fits!

While the rest of the world is moving ahead in hypersonic speed, we just sit in a corner and think about it.

And its so agonizingly frustrating! Just look over the shoulders of Bangladesh, and you have 9W, IT, and for that matter even AI doing great! With the market potential in Bangladesh, Biman could be a truly profitable enough even if it could put in ~75% of the optimum effort...if only!

A photo was published on yesterday's issue of The Daily Star, showing thousands queued up (some even waited overnight under the open sky) to just 'reconfirm' their tickets back to KSA on SV. EK announced they're looking to add 2 more fllights between DAC-DXB to add to the 14 weekly they're already doing. And I could go on and on...but I won't...for I don't want to waste myself so early on in the weekend!

Biman moves to strengthen fleet
Airbus officials due in Dhaka early Feb

A team of Airbus officials is expected in Bangladesh early February to make a fresh offer to supply aircraft to Biman Bangladesh Airlines, with the national carrier attempting to strengthen its ageing fleet, the company's chief executive said yesterday.

“We expect Airbus to come by early February with their new proposal. We are hopeful that our efficiency will increase by adding new aircraft to our fleet,” MA Momen, chief executive of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, told The Daily Star.

Airbus, a subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) is set to come to Bangladesh after the US aircraft maker Boeing Company offered to supply Biman eight aircraft in two phases up to 2017.

Experts believe the cost of eight suitable aircraft would range between US$800 million and $1.5 billion, depending on the aircraft selected.

“We need to compare the proposals before taking any decision,” the Biman chief said.

Biman moved to collect fresh proposals on purchasing aircraft after it became a public limited company in July last year. While the company remains 100 per cent state owned, the PLC entity allows Biman's board of directors to make its own decisions, including the procurement of new aircraft.

The rising cost of jet fuel has hit hard the Biman's current fleet of 12 planes, including one leased Boeing 747. This is because the ageing planes have poor levels of fuel economy and high maintenance costs in comparison with newer aircraft.

At present eight planes are in operation while one remains idle and three under maintenance.

The aircraft of the carrier are grounded frequently due to technical faults resulting from the fleet made up of mostly of 17-19-year-old aircraft and two relatively new planes.

Insiders said on many occasions, during the BNP regime both the Boeing and Airbus made offers to renew Biman's fleet.

In November last year, Boeing offered a fresh proposal to Biman for eight new aircraft, setting a deadline to sign a memorandum of understanding by January 15, 2008.

“We have requested that Boeing extend the deadline till March this year,” a Biman's spokesperson said.

Imran Asif, an aviation industry consultant, suggested that the national carrier needs to compare the offers of both the aircraft makers based not only on acquisition costs but also the operating cost and residual value of the planes.

“If Biman takes the decision on the basis of the acquisition cost offered by the companies, it might be a wrong one,” he said.

Bangladesh's aviation industry, which, according to national encyclopedia Banglapedia, will grow about 7.5 percent a year till 2010, witnessed an increased entry of both domestic and international carriers. Six carriers, including domestic operator United Airways, entered Bangladesh's market last year.

Another local carrier Best Air launched its operation on January 14 this year.

Private GMG Airlines, which will launch flights to Dubai from February 1, is to lease a new Boeing 747-300 aircraft, the company said.

With the induction of the jet propelled 540-seat aircraft, GMG's planes will include three Dash8, two McDonnell Douglas and two Boeing 747-300s.

The airline that has local and foreign operations will further increase its international flights especially in the Middle East.

GMG started operations in 1998 and plans to fly to Muscat, Doha, Kuwait City and Karachi by 2008.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=20112

After a long struggle GMG airlines will operate flights between Dhaka Capital city of Bangladesh and Dubai Commercial City of the United Arab Emirates from 1st February.
Best of Luck........................................Go ahead Bangladesh

I think Biman Bangladesh airlines must share operations with GMG to keep it schedule ontime and maintain its reputation.

Biman moves to strengthen fleet
Airbus officials due in Dhaka early Feb

Private GMG Airlines, which will launch flights to Dubai from February 1, is to lease a new Boeing 747-300 aircraft, the company said.

With the induction of the jet propelled 540-seat aircraft, GMG's planes will include three Dash8, two McDonnell Douglas and two Boeing 747-300s.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=20112


I wonder what GMG meant by saying "new" 747-300s (if they had really said it that way)! The type is surely a new "induction" in GMG's fleet, but the -300 is far from being "new"...the last 747-300 was delivered to Sabena in 1990!

On another note, I've read Best Air telling the press about their "new" 737-200s too. Again, surely they are a new "operator" for the type in Bangladesh, but the last 737-200 was built in 1988!

Twisting and distortion of facts is something I find rather apalling...a practice exercised in Bangladesh all too often!

I wonder what GMG meant by saying "new" 747-300s (if they had really said it that way)! The type is surely a new "induction" in GMG's fleet, but the -300 is far from being "new"...the last 747-300 was delivered to Sabena in 1990!

On another note, I've read Best Air telling the press about their "new" 737-200s too. Again, surely they are a new "operator" for the type in Bangladesh, but the last 737-200 was built in 1988!

Twisting and distortion of facts is something I find rather apalling...a practice exercised in Bangladesh all too often!

I think they meant to say that it was "new" to the airline.

I think they meant to say that it was "new" to the airline.

I hope they did...I expect them to be a much better bunch of people than the rest.

About them starting DXB, it is going to be like an acid test for them and I sincerely hope they make it through. It isn't going to be a cheesewalk by any means considering the facts that the competition on the DAC-DXB route is fierce already (only to get harder by the day), and that GMG will be facing the problem of lacking commonality and flexibility with 4 different types (3x Dash 8s; 1x MD82, 1x 737-800, 2x 747-300) of aircraft. Wet-leasing doesn't really get around the "flexibility" issue, as many are led to believe. GMG will have to work hard and smart, as we all expect them to do, to sustain feasibly on this route. Godspeed!

^^Good to see Airbus coming also. That way there will be competition and in the end the people will win. Although, I don't see any lights at the end of the tunnel for Biman.

Boeing ceased manufacturing 747-400 passenger version last year, let alone the -300 version. All our airlines are acquiring old (junky) planes because nowadays everyone is buying new planes and the old ones are available at reasonable price. GMG must provide optimum service to stay alive in the international routes. Well, at least they are getting an opportunity to give it a shot!

Boeing ceased manufacturing 747-400 passenger version last year, let alone the -300 version. All our airlines are acquiring old (junky) planes because nowadays everyone is buying new planes and the old ones are available at reasonable price.

In these days of skyrocketing jet fuel prices, classic jets are only good when you have people like John Travolta flying 'em!

^^Good to see Airbus coming also. That way there will be competition and in the end the people will win. Although, I don't see any lights at the end of the tunnel for Biman.

Well...me being a cynic would say, "more money to be made for the crooks at Biman" rather than it being a win for the people :)

While it is not known yet which airplanes Airbus will be pitching at Biman (speculation is on A330+A340 bundle), it is to be noted that Airbus will certainly beat Boeing on the "acquisition cost" factor. But if the offer comparisons are factored in with "operating cost" and "residual values" then the results would certainly favour Boeing's 777+787 offer (well enough to offset the higher acquisition cost in under 6-8 years of operation with Biman).

Now only if we could send Biman back to school for some math practices and revisions!

Boeing renews offers to modernise Biman fleet

American aircraft maker Boeing has renewed an offer to modernise Biman's age-old fleet by providing the ailing national carrier with eight new generation planes, a top airline official said Tuesday.

The Chicago company can supply four B-777 and B-787 Dreamliner between 2013 and 2017 at a price of around $1.8 billion should Biman place the order by March 15, chief executive of the airlines, MA Momen, said.

"The company's renewed offer will provide us more time to examine its pros and cons. It will also give us an opportunity to modernise our fleet," he told the FE.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited (BBAL) has a fleet of 12 aircraft, with age spanning from 15 to 28 years.

The airlines, which became a public limited company last year, has identified the fuel-guzzling over-aged fleet as the main reason behind its continuous losses.

The country's largest carrier incurred a loss of around 100 million dollars in 2007 fiscal, after a record loss of 120 million in the previous fiscal.

"Boeing has made its offer valid until 15th March," Momen said.

Airlines officials said Biman is ready to place the order as Boeing has said it would arrange funding from the US Exim Bank.

But the government is still hesitant to be the sovereign guarantor for the purchase, a 'must condition' for availing loan from the American bank, they said.

Boeing briefed the airlines officials about the offer and made a presentation on the planes at the Biman headquarters in the city.

The company would be supplying the commercial planes in two phases-the first one in 2013 and the second in 2017, they added

The board of Biman had earlier agreed in principle to place the order for the planes after Boeing sent a price quotation, asking the Bangladeshi carrier to respond by January 15.

But Biman failed to respond within the stipulated time and sought more time for reviewing the offer.

Of the eight aircraft, Boeing has proposed that it would supply four aircraft by 2013 if both parties agreed on a deal.

An aviation expert calculated the value of the order in the territory of US$1.8-$2.0 billion, analysing the Boeing's catalogue prices.

At present, Biman owns three types of aircraft -- four DC10-30s, four F-28s, and three A310-300s. Among them, DC10-30s are aged over 28 years.

The airline authority stopped flying the F-28s after they proved to be fuel inefficient and too costly to maintain.

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/search_index.php?page=detail_news&news_id=23286

My opinion on the FE Report:

1. The "list prices" of the 4x 777 and 4x 787 would be around US$ 1.8 billion. The actual "discounted prices" that Biman would have to pay should be between US$ 1.2-1.5 billion.

2. Fuel-guzzling ageing airplanes is not the ONLY reason for Biman being on red. The airline has its own inefficiencies contributing to the losses which won't just evaporate with the arrival of spanking-new airplanes.

3. Jet-fuel prices in Bangladesh has 40% (yes, FORTY per cent..not a typo!) duties on what would otherwise be the actual market price. At least 70% of a network/legacy carrier's operating cost is represented by fuel, and Biman buys that paying 40% extra. If the obnoxious duties on jet-fuel are not taken off, Biman would NEVER MAKE ANY PROFIT no matter how efficient its planes are, and no matter how efficient the people running the airline becomes.

4. The sovereign guarantee would not be a mandatory requirement for Biman's fleet renewal if Bangadesh ratifies the Cape Town Convention and the Aircraft Protocol. This has been in talks for months now, and I fail to comprehend why GoB hasn't signed up yet. So much for its promised competency!

5. Boeing made their offer back in November, with the MoU deadline of 15th Jan '08 and the Firm Contract deadline of 15th Feb '08. On their current visit, Mr. Miguel Santos and Mr. Keith Williamson from Boeing are simply extending these deadlines for Biman keeping everything else of the offer unchanged. Any further extension would probably entail a revision of prices and delivery terms.

6. Biman still flies 2 of its F-28s on domestic and regional routes. Whether they like doing that or not is a whole different matter altogether, but at this point of time they don't have a choice.

It is not easy for private carriers to acquire financing to procure new jets; you must have adequate balance sheets to do so; in Bangladesh, this has not been possible as the govt. has tried in all its efforts to restrict growth in private aviation in order to save its national carrier; Biman, in my opinion is finished; they wont be able to order new aircraft as the govt. will not offer a sovereign gaurantee; at least this govt. wont with this administration. GMG is a private carrier, and it is growing quite rapidly; and Boeing and Airbus have and will continue to approach them as well; the only difference is it doesnt come in the paper everyday because it doesnt need to; Best Air, one must highly doubt its viability given its business plan; regarding fuel efficiency; GMG will make up its 8% lack in fuel efficiency between then 747-300 and 747-400 by carrying 540 seats, more than 10% more than most -400s. Hence, it's a lot more calculated than the other airlines around.

It is not easy for private carriers to acquire financing to procure new jets; you must have adequate balance sheets to do so; in Bangladesh, this has not been possible as the govt. has tried in all its efforts to restrict growth in private aviation in order to save its national carrier; Biman, in my opinion is finished; they wont be able to order new aircraft as the govt. will not offer a sovereign gaurantee; at least this govt. wont with this administration. GMG is a private carrier, and it is growing quite rapidly; and Boeing and Airbus have and will continue to approach them as well; the only difference is it doesnt come in the paper everyday because it doesnt need to; Best Air, one must highly doubt its viability given its business plan; regarding fuel efficiency; GMG will make up its 8% lack in fuel efficiency between then 747-300 and 747-400 by carrying 540 seats, more than 10% more than most -400s. Hence, it's a lot more calculated than the other airlines around.

I have a strong, strong fetish...that for constructive arguments. Henceforth:

1. The whole, and quite the sole purpose of bringing the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol into force is to allow potential airlines in the under-developed and developing countries to have easier and cheaper access to funds to procure newer aircraft from the manufacturers WITHOUT requiring sovereign guarantees. If Bangladesh ratifies it and deposits the proper set of declarations, all airlines in Bangladesh will be entitled to the benefits of the convention. GMG, as the country's leading private airline should join their screaming voices with that of Biman and other carriers. Sadly, I haven't seen them doing so at all yet, which makes me wonder if they're all too happy and feel all too safe being where they are already.

2. Biman isn't quite finished yet...it is rather right in between death & glory. I am an optimist, with dreams bigger than myself, and I am doing everything I can from my little capacity to help turn Biman around...in a purely voluntary effort. And this year is going to be it...for Biman to go either way. Probably for the first time in 35 years, we now have a person in charge of Civil Aviation who is widely respectable, and known to be a true performer - Mr. Mahbub Jamil. Like they say, every cloud has a silver lining!

3. Neither Boeing, nor Airbus will just keep pursuing Biman for its orders. I was told by an ex-French Trade Commissioner that Airbus just had enough of Biman and wouldn't keep it on anymore. The same was the case for Boeing, only worse. This time around, Boeing came at the insistence of Biman. Neither Boeing, nor Airbus want a guaranteed order from Biman. They only want Biman to DECIDE on either one of them upon a fair comparison...something Biman hasn't been doing despite having taken numerous offers in the past few years. The 2 manufacturers have been registering record sales in the last 3-4 years with each exceeding 1,000 orders every year, and have their production slots sold out for about the next 5 years on an average. The next big rush of orders will come their way from the legacy carriers in the US and that's where they're focusing now...not on incompetent carriers like Biman.

4. You can always lay out 540 or more seats on a 747-400 too, as you can on a -300. And on same configuration, the -400 will be more than 8% efficient than the -300. But that's not the major issue. The issue is, if they can fill 540 seats then the CASM will be very low and they'll make good money. The downside is if they can fill say about 275 seats on an average, which is when the trip-cost based on the block-hour rates (~US$ 6,000) would take the CASM too high for GMG to make any money. The competition on DAC-DXB sector only promises to get more intense (EK has just announced 2 more frequencies taking them to 16 weekly), and it is not going to be an impossible, but a difficult task for GMG to make its bucks. Again, as an optimist, I hope they'll live up to the challenge.

^^

Along with you, I hope and pray that Biman shall be able to turn itself around and not go in the way of Aero Peru, Nigerian Airways, et.al.

As for Cape Town agreement, I fail the fathom the reason for hesitancy for Bnagladesh government not to sign it. While they have taken many bold steps not just in the governmental and poilitical areas like cleaning up the garbage (I mean metaphorically) at Chittagong port where today it is a bright spot in efficiency, not sign the Cape Town? Where is the catch?

GMG may not be able to sit on its laurels of success for too long, now that they have plunged into the very competitive international sector. The key to their continued success lies in hiring known and competent airline/aviation managers and let them run the the show. But I wonder, like Bangladesh Government, whether they operate in vacuum? Do they care about public opinion or constructive criticism? I have been screaming about their amatuerish web presence for quite sometime now. I even requested a participant of this forum who, apparently has an inside connection to GMG, to convey my message to them. To date, I have seen no change. GMG continues to update fare and schedule information with international sector data, without a clue (anywhere) on their website they they fly internationally!

^^If I am not mistaken, airlines usually get 40% discount on aircraft purchase. I read in the newspapers that Biman will pay "list price". If that is the case then this deal may very well confirm Biman's death. I say let this airline go, no need to keep it on life support.

I think it will be wiser to sell BIMAN to private sectors completely. There is no need to have a national flag carrier in today's world. Biman should compete to make the business and survival is the fittest. I would hate to see the same old Biman with newer aricrafts.

We can take example of Srilankan Airlines. They are doing good business now with Emirates running it.

This is just the beginning. The 737-200 and its P&W JT8D engines would be extremely difficult to maintain and to find spares for. The last major operator of the type was Delta (Delta Express) and they found it difficult to keep these birds flying in the US, where you have greater engineering and spares sources available.

Just like GMG found operating the MD-82s very, very difficult (cost and mx wise) and I believe they returned one of the two already.

The principle I'd advise for any airline start-up in Bangladesh, from my little knowledge, is: start small if you can't afford to start as large as you'd like, but be CERTAIN to start EFFICIENT! 'Efficiency' is the name of the game in airline business (unless you're in Africa, who by the way, are also improving of late!).

I was reading your above post Imran Bhai and I have a airline-neophyte query.

I've noticed that Aloha airlines still uses quite a few 737-200's (10 pax and 6 cargo at last count) with the JT8-D engines (went from Oahu to Maui last year on a 20 minute inter-island flight on one of these which is roughly comparable to the DAC-CTG sector). The planes have been refurbished well and apparently are well-maintained. They are definitely noisier than the -300's or -400's. While this may not be the case with Best Airlines' 737-200, my question is -- why does Aloha continue to fly these old birds (keeping in mind the efficiency factor)?

I think it will be wiser to sell BIMAN to private sectors completely. There is no need to have a national flag carrier in today's world. Biman should compete to make the business and survival is the fittest. I would hate to see the same old Biman with newer aricrafts.

We can take example of Srilankan Airlines. They are doing good business now with Emirates running it.


Regarding Sri Lanka, they were doing good business being a partner of Emirates. But recently there had been an incident where the president of Sri Lanka along with his entourage were being off loaded or something like that. And as a result, Sri. Govt. terminated the work permint of the CEO. In retaliation Emirates announced the end of their relationship with Sri Lankan. So they will be off their own, if they are not already.

Biman will never be able to partner with any renowned profitable airlines because it's a huge liability that no one will be willing to carry. In the business world people don't do business to loose money! If you factor in Biman's debt, they are worth nothing! That's why I was thinking that purchasing new aircrafts for Biman would be like purchasing latest equipment for a person who is on life support. I know it's sad, that so many lives and livelihood depend on Biman, but how long can the impoverish people of Bangladesh carry the burden of Biman? New aircrafts are just part of the business, Biman totally lacks everything to be profitable and being able to sustain the profit and growth for a good long time.

I am sorry to sound so pessimistic but couldn't help being that!

For TIslam: I have no idea why GoB had not decided to ratify the Cape Town Convention + Aircraft Protocol back in November when Boeing included that as a part of their offer. I don't know if I'll succeed, but I'm trying to get this into the heads of GoB and have them convinced to do it. Fingers crossed!

For Clearsky: The discounts offered by manufacturers to airlines depend on several factors including volume/value of order, agreed delivery dates, future business potential, etc. The range is usually between 5% - 30%, but for new airplane launches the launch customers may get much higher than that. Rumour has it that ANA got 50% off for their 787s! But, no matter how much discounts are offered, the press must be told the value of the order at list prices, always...that is a mandatory condition by the manufacturer and part of the Non-Disclosure Agreement between the airline and the manufacturer. From what I know, Boeing had offered a decent discount on their offer back in November '07...although that might have changed now that Biman got Boeing to extend its offer validity till March '08.

For Manbil777: If I'm not mistaken, Aloha owns their 737-200s and at a depreciation rate of about 5%/year, these birds have been "paid-for", if you know what I mean. That's one reason for them still flying these birds, as Northwest does their DC-9s. Another important factor is the "maintainability" of these birds. In the US you have a fair supply of spares for these airplanes coming from cannibalizing the ones at Victorville, Marana, etc...and then you also have extensive maintenance facilities for these planes in the US...something lacking COMPLETELY in Bangladesh. It costs to keep these old birds "well-maintained" as you pointed out. That "cost" gets paid for by the flight revenues these planes generate and/or from the revenues from the flights it "feeds" passengers into (an element of yield management). By charging the lowest fare in the DAC-CGP sector, Best Air wouldn't be making enough money to maintain these planes as well as Aloha does and would probably be flying their 737-200s back to Thailand/Indonesia when they'll be due for the C and D checks (probably the reason why they're doing just 2 DAC-CGP runs everyday with the one 737-200 to keep the heavy checks at bay for as long as possible).

I hope I've been somewhat comprehensive for you all!

GMG goes to 'make or break' Dubai from Feb 1

The country's largest private carrier GMG will start flying to Dubai from February 1, an official said Thursday, in a move seen as 'make or break' for the struggling airlines.

The company has leased a Boeing 542-seater 747-200 aircraft to fly passengers to the gulf gateway seven days a week, making it the first Bangladesh private airlines to achieve the feat, General manager of GMG Erfan Haque said.

The airlines has made extensive marketing of the flight both at home and in the Gulf and the officials are confident that the latest GMG destination will cement its place in the region.

"It is the most crucial flight for us. It is a huge challenge," Haque said.

"The flight to Dubai will open up the whole Middle East for us. It is also the best destination as far as profit is concerned. We have struck inter-line agreement for Riyadh Dammam, Jeddah, Kuwait and Bahrain," he added.

One in two people who fly abroad from Bangladesh goes to the middle east, which employs more than 70 per cent of the country's over five million expatriate workers.

The weekly flight to Dubai will almost double the number of monthly passengers for the struggling airlines, which according to insiders, has yet to break-even despite operating for a decade.

Haque said the airlines was making profit since 2005, but insiders said it was losing Tk 10 million a month even six months back.

The airlines carry 34,000-35,000 passengers a month operating 42 weekly international flights to Kolkata, Delhi, Kathmundu, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. The Dubai flight will add another 30,000 passengers to the airlines' monthly tally.

"Our plan is to carry as much as 100,000 passengers a month by the end of the year. We will add flights to lucrative destinations and a few in India before the year end," he said.

Haque said, the airlines will lease another Boeing 747-300 aircraft by April and fly to Karachi very soon. It also has plans to fly to Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and London by this year.

"It will be defining year for us. We hope by the end of 2008 we will be a respected airlines in the region," he said.

An analyst says that the flight to Dubai can pave the way for better days at GMG but the road to glory looks bumpy and tougher than ever.

"There is no doubt that the flight to Dubai can make the struggling GMG a big player in the region. It is a huge opportunity for any airlines to fly to the middle east, specially in Dubai," analyst Imran Asif said.

But the airlines is ill-equipped to make gains from the new found opportunity as it faces huge competition from Gulf carriers, lack of flexibility due to dependence on a single wide-bodied aircraft and high fuel cost, he said.

"The flight to Dubai is the most competitive and a slight disruption or a drop in passengers may impact GMG's balance sheet. Besides, the Boeing 747 aircraft that the airlines has leased is not fuel effi cient. It's a guzzler," he said.

World's sixth largest airlines Emirates at present carries the bulk of the traffic between Dhaka and Dubai, followed by ailing Bangladesh national carrier Biman.

Emirates operates 14 jumbo flights a week and will soon add two more. There are also several other top gulf carriers operating in the route.

"The operating cost of GMG will be far higher than other airlines since the airlines use four different types of aircraft. It hired aircraft on wet lease basis, which is very costly," he said.

By wet-leasing an aircraft, an airlines hires everything from the leasing company including its crew, its maintenance and insurance. In dry lease, an operator hires only the aircraft, but provides for all other costs.

In addition to the recently hired Boeing 747, GMG has three Dash-8 which mostly flies in domestic routes, two leased MD-82 and a Boeing 737-800.

"The Dubai flight is a huge gamble for GMG. A combination of good fortune and better demand can discount the negatives," he said, adding if GMG clicks it will also be a big boost for other private airlines.

Haque, however, says that GMG can weather the 'negatives' as it did many times since 1998 when it started operation in domestic route with a 37-seater Dash-8 aircraft.

"We have never been as confident as we are today," he said.

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/search_index.php?page=detail_news&news_id=23483

GMG goes to 'make or break' Dubai from Feb 1

Haque said the airlines was making profit since 2005, but insiders said it was losing Tk 10 million a month even six months back.
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/search_index.php?page=detail_news&news_id=23483

Sounds like some of the insiders might have typical Bangladeshi Jealousy Syndrome or BJS for short. Haque is the Executive of the company, I see no reason why he would lie about making profit since GMG is a private and not a publicly listed company.

GMG goes to 'make or break' Dubai from Feb 1
"Our plan is to carry as much as 100,000 passengers a month by the end of the year.
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/search_index.php?page=detail_news&news_id=23483

This Bangladeshi company has some big ambitions, I like it. I wish them all the success so they can lead in creating and inspiring other global Bangladeshi company. :cheers:

Well, 2008 is going to be the most significant year in the history of Bangladesh as far as commercial aviation is concerned.

My crystal ball says:

- Significant policy changes for new airline startups. Will encourage greater private sector investment while ensuring better and safer standards of services to passengers

- Overall policy reforms for commercial aviation through updating the Civil Aviation Rules 1984 (better known as CAR84) and ancillary regulations

- A more competent Civil Aviation Authority

- A major overhaul of Biman (including its board, management, operations, fleet) resulting in greatest competency in its lifespan till date

- Significant infrastructural development (airports, ATC, etc.)

- By the end of the year, a very promising and healthy industry environment to prevail for Biman and private carriers alike

Godspeed!

Well, 2008 is going to be the most significant year in the history of Bangladesh as far as commercial aviation is concerned.

My crystal ball says:

- Significant policy changes for new airline startups. Will encourage greater private sector investment while ensuring better and safer standards of services to passengers

- Overall policy reforms for commercial aviation through updating the Civil Aviation Rules 1984 (better known as CAR84) and ancillary regulations

- A more competent Civil Aviation Authority

- A major overhaul of Biman (including its board, management, operations, fleet) resulting in greatest competency in its lifespan till date

- Significant infrastructural development (airports, ATC, etc.)

- By the end of the year, a very promising and healthy industry environment to prevail for Biman and private carriers alike

Godspeed!

I agree. I really hope Chittagong Shah Amanat Airport gets more busy, specially with foreign airlines. Dhaka airport also needs to expanded. Additional runway is a must. More shops, restaurants won't hurt either. Best would be if somehow they were able to relocate Zia to outside of Dhaka.

A portrait of real Bangladeshi business entrepreneur and we need more like him. Knowing more about “Bestair” and man behind it, there should be little doubt about the success of this airline.

http://www.jaijaidin.com/page.php?pid=13037

A portrait of real Bangladeshi business entrepreneur and we need more like him. Knowing more about “Bestair” and man behind it, there should be little doubt about the success of this airline.


I'm sure he's a great entrepreneur in Bangladesh but does he really know the airlines/aviation business? As many people have pointed out here that profitability is doubtful when the fleet consists of ancient and inefficient 737-200s. Since Bestair is now allied with a Kuwaiti company, why not obtain funding from them to procure aircrafts suitable for their operation?

Bangladesh based airline startups appear to have adopted the southeast asian model where startups begun their operations with retired aircrafts from established airlines. But that was 20 years ago when those aircrafts weren't that expensive to maintain, nor was fuel as expensive. In contrast, look at the Indian model (which appeared ten years later), nearly all the startups acquired modern aircrafts.

There's a saying in the TQM (total quality management) community, "do it right the first time.",

A portrait of real Bangladeshi business entrepreneur and we need more like him. Knowing more about “Bestair” and man behind it, there should be little doubt about the success of this airline.

http://www.jaijaidin.com/page.php?pid=13037


What I found very unprofessional for Best Air having done is the way they portrayed their acquisition of the B737-200s. Like I said earlier, the "newest" 737-200 (which is not what Best Air got) is over 20 years old today as its production ended in 1988. Best Air promoted their fleet saying that these were the most fuel-efficient, safe, and sought after aircraft in the world. Yes, the 737 family has the highest sales ever of any commercial aircraft, but the 737-200 is NOT the most sought after model anywhere in the world; and it is NOT fuel efficient when you compare with even the newer 737 models (the 737-900ER carrying 215 pax would burn about 30% less fuel than the 737-200 with 120 pax on a comparable mission length).

And then comes the question of safety. Of course older planes can be as safe as any brand-new plane if you can afford to take its increasing maintenance costs over the years, especially after 20 years of service (which is an aircraft's typical design life). But this increasing cost of maintenance is where the the economics for fare structure, yield, and everything else associated becomes tricky. To cover the higher mx costs, an airline will either have to reduce costs or increase fares. Best Air has already announced the lowest fare in the sector, and there aren't many areas where it can really cut costs.

I'll not elaborate the reasons for saying this, but I think Best Air is will soon be owned by Aqeeq by 100%. Though there's a regulation limiting foreign stakeholding in a local airline to 49%, this regulation can very easily be tricked around legitimately.

I'm sure he's a great entrepreneur in Bangladesh but does he really know the airlines/aviation business?

Article has stated his experience in aviation business, have you read it??

As many people have pointed out here that profitability is doubtful when the fleet consists of ancient and inefficient 737-200s. Since Bestair is now allied with a Kuwaiti company, why not obtain funding from them to procure aircrafts suitable for their operation?

I am not sure its true that profitability can not be ensured with 737 fleet. There are many airlines which did it. But looking into flight expansion strategy they are trying to taste the water slowly. Although I would add much faster than how GMG expanded.

Bangladesh based airline startups appear to have adopted the southeast asian model where startups begun their operations with retired aircrafts from established airlines. But that was 20 years ago when those aircrafts weren't that expensive to maintain, nor was fuel as expensive. In contrast, look at the Indian model (which appeared ten years later), nearly all the startups acquired modern aircrafts.

Indian domestic aviation market is much bigger in size and geography, so they can adapt model where large number of aircrafts are needed to cover that market. That model does not make sense in terms of Bangladesh domestic market and trend. Our market strength is intl passenger where a new airline has to compete with giants like Emirates and others. So tasting water slowly may not be bad starategy.

[QUOTE=snoq;17948438]Article has stated his experience in aviation business, have you read it??QUOTE]

The article doesn't say that one of Best Air's aircraft leased to the UN (as mentioned in the article) had crashed off Sudan (An HS-748, Reg # S2-ABE) just months after it was sent there, attributed to very poor maintenance on the very old bird.

The article also synchronises its voice with that of Best Air saying that the 737-200 is a state-of-the-art aircraft to fly on. Pure BS.

He also mentioned about hundreds of 737s operational in India. Does he know how many of those 'hundreds' are -200 series AND in passenger service? Why didn't Best Air EVER mention, among all these fact furnishing efforts about their 737, the year of manufacture of their planes?

I have nothing personal against Best Air, but I have everything against misleading statements, whoever it comes from.