Biman announces new local routes

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will begin flights to five additional destinations in the country from April 06, the national carrier said in a statement yesterday.

The airline will now operate six flights a week to Cox's Bazar, five to Jessore, three to both Rajshahi and Syedpur, and two to Barisal, it said.

Also, Biman will increase the frequency on existing local services, with 25 additional flights on the Chittagong and Sylhet routes, it said.

The additional destinations will be served with the recently leased Dash8-Q400 aircrafts.

In total, the airline will operate 120 local flights a week, with a jump of almost 80 percent in passenger capacity.

Tickets for the new services will go on sale on February 25, Biman said.

The improved schedule will connect more cities by air and will support the leisure travel market.

"Our customers will also get more flight options on the existing routes," said Kyle Haywood, managing director and chief executive officer of the airline.

Biman served some of the new routes before, but the services were cancelled due to aircraft shortage.