Extension of open sky policy sought
A foreign airline, Air Asia X, a sister concern of Malaysia's AirAsia, yesterday urged the government to keep the open sky policy effective for another three months to take some two lakh Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia.
"We have already carried three thousand Bangladeshis on charter basis. But probably we would not be able to operate flights from the beginning of next year unless the government extends the open sky policy further," M Gunasekar, coordinator for Air Asia X charter flights, at a briefing in Dhaka.
The Bangladesh government's three-month open sky policy expires on December 31.
Air Asia X is the fourth airline that has taken the benefit of open sky policy after Air Arabia, RAK Airways and local private operator GMG Airlines, officials of Air Asia X said.
The Air Asia X that began its flight on December 3 from Bangladesh is the fourth carrier operating on Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur route. Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Malaysia Air Lines, GMG Airlines are also operating on the same route, the officials told the briefing.
Gunasekar said five lakh Bangladeshi workers got visas from Malaysia. Of them, about three lakh have already reached Malaysia, he said.
"The shortage of seats in the regular carriers is still acute. More than 50,000 workers are already in the queue for getting a seat in any Malaysia-bound plane," Gunasekar said.
Noman Chowdhury, who helps Air Asia X to charter flights, also pointed to the flight crisis for Bangladeshis who have received job offers in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern countries.
The country's manpower exports has increased all time high in 2007. About 5 lakh workers left the country as of October 2007, against 3.8 lakh during the same period of 2006, according to manpower sources.
Earlier in September, thousands of workers had to postpone their scheduled travel amid flight shortages leading the government to follow open sky policy.
The government announced the open sky policy in three international airports of the country, hoping to clear up a backlog people who have jobs.
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.
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