The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The inaugural flight of newly launched Air Slovakia on Friday left here for Italy via Slovakian capital Bratislava.

The first Air Slovakia flight, a 757 Boeing aircraft with 200 passenger accommodation, left the Zia International Airport at 10:30 am for European destination.

Air Slovakia officials said the flight would take 11 hours to reach Bologna of Italy with one hour's stay in the Slovakian capital.

They said the new Eastern European airline would operate its flight regularly once a week for the European destinations, including London. However, the London-bound flight will operate from second part of the current month.

Earlier, the Air Slovakia authority announced their new flight operation from Dhaka to London via Bratislava with a very competitive ticket tariff.

Air Slovakia will be the second airline after British Airways to operate direct flights from Dhaka to London.

Air Slovakia's chairman HS Sidhu said his airline would initially operate a flight once a week.

The number of flights might be increased to two or three a week depending on the demand from passengers, he said and expected a huge prospect for his airline, now operating flights from India to different European destinations.

Air Slovakia's flights will also touch some other European destinations, including Vienna in Austria in course of time.

Air Slovakia has flight operations in 35 destinations across the world, mostly in Europe.

About the new flight operation from Bangladesh and food, Air Slovakia chairman said: "We'll treat human as human and will serve Bengali foods for the Bangladeshi passengers."

Local firm Aerospeed International is the GSA of the Air Slovakia.