India's Jet Airways starts operations in Bangladesh today

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.