The New Nation - Internet Edition

BUSINESS REPORT

Best Air started its direct flights on two new international destinations--Colombo, Sri Lanka and Male, Maldives from yesterday.

This is the first time in Bangladesh that any airline has started direct flights to these destinations. M Haider Uzzaman, Chairman of Best Air, Chatermpol Thanchitt Ambassador of Thailand, V. Krishnamoorthy, J Ariyarathe, Charge De Affairs, Sri Lankan Embassy Dhaka, Dta Tshering Dorji, Ambassador of Bhutan, Nguyen Van That, Ambassador of Vietnam, Mrs Zenaida Tacorda Rabago, Ambassador of the Philippines, Hassan Farazandeh and Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran and newly appointed Ambassador of Maldives Dr Samad were present at the inaugural function at ZIA.

Group Capt Alamgir, Director Admin and HR, Ali Reza Khan, Director Regularity Affairs, Sadiqque Ahsan, Consultant Finance, Farhad Hossain, Director Marketing and Sales and other Best Air high officials were also present at the inaugural function at ZIA.

M Haider Uzzaman said "Several thousands of Sri Lankan citizens now working at the country's export processing zones, RMG sectors, educat ional institutes, hospitals and other businesses in Bangladesh. Besides several hundreds of students of Sri Lanka are studying at several educational institutions including the University of Science and Technology of Chittagong. Since there was no direct flight between DAC and CMB, they had to come to Bangladesh via Singapore or Bangkok with a higher price. Best Air direct flight will be blessings for them. He also mentioned that over 50,000 Bangladeshi people are working in Male. The DAC-MLE flight will carry great significance for them too."

Best Air will operate Colombo and Male on every Friday and Monday. Dhaka- Colombo--Dhaka will cost $800 (including all taxes and surcharges) and Dhaka-Male--Dhaka will cost $860 (including all taxes and surcharges).

Best Air which launched its operation on the domestic route on January 14 this year. Just after inauguration, with in 4 months this carrier started its First International flight in DAC-BKK-DAC route. Now it has added two more international destinations to its route - structure. Best Air already got the permissions to operate flights to Kolkata, Chennai, Kuala Lumpur, Kunming, Dubai, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Best Aviation started operations in 1999 as a Helicopter operator, pioneering this service in Bangladesh. Best Air started its journey as a Freighter Airline beginning 2000. Best Air has been operating different types of freighter in the Domestic & International Sectors.

Best Air obtained License in 2006 from Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh to operate Passenger Service in the International & Domestic Sectors. This Airline has a team of Professionals Multinational ensu ring safe Internati onal Standard flights for the passengers.

Best Air has also developed a strong base in the total Aviation Business and offers a varied range of aviation services including aircraft sourcing, emergency evacuation of patients and VIP aircraft mobilization.