Best Air launches international operation May 25

Local private airline Best Air is set to launch its international operation on May 25 through its first flight to Bangkok, its chairman said yesterday.
“We had plans to start much earlier. But we have had to wait for meeting some regulatory requirements. Now we are ready to fly,” M Haider Uzzaman, chairman of Best Air, told a press conference in Dhaka.
The Best Air, majority stake of which is controlled by Kuwait based Aqeeq Aviation Holding, is to fly on an international route after having operated on the domestic routes, with its single Boeing 737-200, for five months.
The airline sources, however, said another 118 seater Boeing 737-200 aircraft would be added to its fleet soon.
According the Best Air, it would operate four flights a week on the Dhaka-Bangkok-Dhaka route and will charge $ 240 as fare, which will not include tax.
Entry of Best Air on the Dhaka-Bangkok route will intensify competition as four other airlines-Thai Airways, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, GMG Airlines and DRUK Air are already operating on the same route.
About 9,000 passengers on average fly along the route each month, said Haider, adding, we think there are passengers to be have.
Operators said Bangladeshis health service seekers and businessmen are the main passengers on the Dhaka to Bangkok route with Thai Airways controlling over two-third of the total traffic.
Biman and GMG, two domestic contenders, carry about 20 percent of the overall traffic on the route, industry sources said.
“We have received governments approval to fly to seven international destinations in six countries. We hope to start flights to other destinations within July,” chairman of Best Air said.
The airline, as part of its move to attract passengers, has also planned to offer some incentives to passengers, such as free health check up at a Thai hospital.
The Best Air will be the third domestic carrier to fly on the international route after Biman and GMG Airline.