More budget airlines on horizon

A file photo of an Air Arabia plane in Chittagong. Air Arabia one of the first budget carriers to operate in Bangladesh.
Photo: STAR

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.
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.