The new private airline, Fly Dhaka, aims to launch its operations by the end of the year, targeting the growing number of passengers and aiming to reclaim the country’s aviation market, currently dominated by foreign airlines, occupying 80% of the market share.
Adhering to the motto "Connecting Dreams, Uniting Destinations," Fly Dhaka is gearing up to commence its domestic services, becoming the 12th private airline in the country, operating with ATR 72-600 aircraft.
Plans are underway to expand its fleet to include Boeing and Airbus aircraft upon receiving approval for international routes. With the introduction of Fly Dhaka, the number of domestic airlines will rise to four.
Currently, three local airlines, namely Novoair, US-Bangla, and Air Astra, operate domestic flights, with NovoAir and US-Bangla also catering to international passengers.
Over the past 25 years, eight private airlines have ceased operations, with Regent Airways being the latest to halt services in 2022.
Lieutenant General (retired) Molla Fazle Akber, CEO of Fly Dhaka, stated that all necessary preparations have been made to commence operations by the end of this year.
He emphasised their commitment to achieving the Prime Minister's vision of establishing the country as an aviation hub while ensuring the sector's enrichment and safety standards.
Anisul Islam Mahmud, a Jatiyo Party lawmaker and former minister, holds ownership of Fly Dhaka.
Farabi Bin Jahir, Head of Corporate Affairs and Public Relations at Fly Dhaka, highlighted the airline's goal to capitalise on the growth in air passenger numbers.
He expressed concerns over the dominance of foreign airlines, which currently control 80% of the market share, resulting in significant capital outflow from the country. "Fly Dhaka aims to address this disparity by entering the market."
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, in 2023, the country's airports served 1.74 crore passengers, with the majority being international travelers, marking a year-on-year increase of 26 lakh passengers.
Farabi bin Zahir addressed the issue of sustainability among private airlines, noting that air travel is no longer exclusive to the elite and has become increasingly popular among the middle class due to time constraints and transportation challenges such as traffic congestion.
