The New Nation - Internet Edition

BUSINESS REPORT

Best Air, the country's third private airline, is likely to start its Dhaka-Dubai-Dhaka route from August 27.

"Initially we will fly on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday," Best Air Director (Marketing and Sales) Farhad Hossain said.

For the new Dhaka-Dubai-Dhaka route the aviation company would take lease 162- seat MD-83, and the aircraft will be available by next week.

Best Air has already got permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to operate flights to Kuala Lumpur.

"After the inauguration of the Dhaka- Dubai route we will go for Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur route via Chittagong three days a week," Farhad said, adding that there is a possibility of starting Chittagong- Dubai route simultaneously at that time.

Best Air now operates on Dhaka-Bangkok and Dhaka-Colombo-Male routes with its lone Boeing 737-200.

It has suspended its Dhaka-Chittagong route on July 1 due to poor response from passengers.

Best Aviation started its journey in 1999 as a helicopter operator and then began its operation as a Freighter Airline in 2000.

It obtained licence in 2006 from the Civil Aviation Authority to operate Passenger Services on international and domestic sectors. The company launched its passenger fleet with Boeing 737-200, which was the first in Bangladesh.

The aviation industry in Bangladesh has marked a boom with the launching of three private airlines in last one year. A fourth company is set to start commercial flights next month.

The industry is growing 7.5 to 8 percent a year, while the sector's market size is around Tk 3,500 crore, according to the sector insiders.