United Airways to connect Bangkok
Private carrier United Airways is set to start passenger service from Dhaka to Bangkok from June 9 as part of its recent move to expand international routes to a number of destinations.
For this, the carrier has bought an ATR-72 aircraft from Indonesia that was brought to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport yesterday, increasing the strength of the airline's fleet to seven aircraft now.
The carrier will operate two flights a week and will charge Tk 18,000 in Dhaka-Bangkok-Dhaka fare, including all taxes, which will be the lowest among local and foreign airlines, claimed officials of United Airways.
The new ATR-72 aircraft, configured with 64 economy seats, will primarily be used on Dhaka-Bangkok route, while it will also fly to regional destinations such as Kolkata and Delhi.
“We are ready to start passenger flights to Bangkok. The civil aviation ministry has approved our appeal to allow us to operate on Dhaka-Delhi route, which we are hopeful about starting by July,” said Mohammad Badrodduja Sagar, sales and marketing manager of the carrier.
The company is also likely to launch passenger flights to Jeddah from June 26 and to Singapore from the end of July, he said. To run operations to these destinations, United plans to buy two more Airbus-310-325 by the third quarter of this year.
Sagar said the carrier is ready with adequate aircraft, manpower and other technical preparations to increase its international routes.
United Airways, the first listed airline in country's capital market, started its journey on July 10, 2007 with its maiden flight from Dhaka to Sylhet and it currently operates regular flights to all major domestic routes, including Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Sylhet and Jessore.
The international operation of the airline began on September 24, 2008 with a flight to Kolkata. Later in 2009 it added five more international destinations such as London, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Kathmandu and also connected Kolkata from Chittagong as well.
The company's authorised capital is Tk 1,000 crore, while the paid-up capital is Tk 210 crore, according to official data. In 2010, the company bagged a net profit of Tk 10.57 crore.
Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury, chairman and managing director of United Airways, was present at the aircraft receiving ceremony at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Comments