US-Bangla Airlines, one of the country's leading private carriers, has announced plans to operate Hajj flights directly between Dhaka and Jeddah.
The airline hopes that this initiative will significantly reduce travel time and inconvenience for Hajj pilgrims, said the airline’s General Manager (Public Relations) Md Kamrul Islam during a press conference held on Monday (25 November), at the Best Western Heritage Hotel in Cox's Bazar.
Highlighting the challenges faced by pilgrims, Kamrul Islam stated, "Every year during Hajj, flight scheduling issues arise, preventing pilgrims from reaching Jeddah on time. To address this, we have already applied to the authorities for permission to operate direct flights on this route and are optimistic about obtaining approval in the near future."
Currently, US-Bangla Airlines operates flights to several Middle Eastern destinations, including Muscat, Doha, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi, as well as Jeddah. The Jeddah route not only caters to expatriates but also supports Umrah pilgrims. By facilitating direct flights, the airline aims to provide seamless service to both expatriates and religious travellers.
US-Bangla has achieved significant milestones since its inception. The airline launched its first international route, Dhaka to Kathmandu, on 15 May 2016, just two years after commencing operations in 2014. It now flies to several international destinations, including Kolkata, Chennai, Male, Muscat, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, and Guangzhou.
The airline has also been pivotal in improving connectivity on under-served routes. It introduced the Dhaka-Chennai route to meet growing demand and redirected three of its six weekly flights from Chattogram-Kolkata to Chattogram-Chennai, ensuring direct travel for passengers.
In another significant move, US-Bangla launched direct Dhaka-Malé flights to address the needs of approximately 1.5 lakh Bangladeshi workers in the Maldives, who previously had to endure time-consuming and expensive travel via Colombo, Chennai, or the Middle East.
Looking ahead, the airline plans to introduce flights to Riyadh and Medina by April-May, requiring the addition of Airbus A330 aircraft to its fleet by 2025. Moreover, plans are underway to expand operations to European destinations, including Rome by 2026, and to New York and Toronto by 2027.
US-Bangla currently boasts a fleet of 24 aircraft, including 2 Airbus A330-300, 9 Boeing 737-800, 10 ATR 72-600, and 3 Dash 8-Q400 models. It has maintained an impressive on-time performance record exceeding 90%, earning the trust of its passengers.
Employing around 3,000 personnel, US-Bangla plays a vital role in reducing unemployment in Bangladesh while contributing to the national economy through regular tax payments and foreign currency earnings. The airline's frequent flyer programme, 'SkyStar', and its robust ticketing services via websites, mobile apps, and over 40 sales offices worldwide, further bolster its reputation.
Since its debut on 17 July 2014 with Dash 8-Q400 aircraft on the Dhaka-Jashore route, US-Bangla has been a pioneer in Bangladesh’s aviation industry, continually expanding both its domestic and international operations.
