Bangladesh and Myanmar yesterday signed a new air services agreement, opening an opportunity to operate seven passenger flights and four cargo flights a week between the two countries.
Under the agreement, operators, including private airliners, will be able to run passenger and cargo flights, the foreign ministry said in a statement yesterday.
The inclusion of private airliners will help re-establish air connectivity to help develop tourism, enhance bilateral trade and people-to-people contact between the two neighbours.
The agreement was signed after an air services consultation meeting between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Air Commodore Mahmud Hussain, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), and U Tin Naing Tun, director general of the Department of Civil Aviation of Myanmar, led their delegations.
The CAAB chairman is one of the three-member Bangladesh team led by Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary M Ataharul Islam to explore the scope of tourism and resume air services between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Last month, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Myanmar and stressed the need for resumption of the air link between the two countries.
Biman officials said the national flag carrier suspended its Dhaka-Yangon flights in 2007 due to losses.