- SUMMARY
- Air India Express is planning Bangladesh services launch.
- It has appointed the largest travel agency in Bangladesh as its GSA.
- In a phased manner, plan is to expand presence in Chittagong as well.
Air India Express, the low-cost subsidiary of Tata Group Airlines is looking to foray into the Dhaka market in July month. This will mark the airline’s entry into the India-Bangladesh aviation market. It is looking to connect Dhaka to two Indian cities.
Air India Express Planning Dhaka Entry
Ankur Garg is the Chief Commercial Officer of Air India Express. During an agent briefing in the Bangladeshi capital held on May 28, he talked about the airline’s intention to launch services between India and Bangladesh. From July month, it is aiming to launch direct flights connecting Dhaka to Chennai and Kolkata. The airline is expected to operate daily services on these routes.
As per the report by The Bangladesh Monitor, Air India Express has appointed MAAS Travels as its Global Sales Agent (GSA) for Bangladesh. It is the largest travel agency in Bangladesh and is also a registered member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
Other than the non-stop passengers, Air India Express aims to cater to the transiting passengers heading to Gulf countries. Air India Express has the largest network when it comes to connecting South India with Gulf cities.
Bangladeshi passengers can also seamlessly transit to various domestic destinations, such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, etc. These passengers will also be able to use the network of Air India and Vistara, which are set to be merged before the end of this year.
Chittagong Connection As Well
After the conclusion of Dhaka entry, Air India Express will be expanding into the Bangladesh market in phases. With time, it will be launching flights connecting India to Chittagong as well. It will be connecting Dhaka to various Indian cities. Currently, US-Bangla Airlines is the only airline connecting Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport (CGP) to India with 5X weekly ATR flights to Kolkata.
Currently, airlines from both sides are connecting Bangladesh to 4 Indian cities. Five airlines- IndiGo, Vistara, Air India, US-Bangla Airlines, and Biman Bangladesh serve this market.
Dhaka to Kolkata is the busiest route with 6 daily flights. This route is followed by Dhaka to Delhi, with the presence of 4 airlines operating 31 weekly flights. Vistara and IndiGo operate daily flights between Mumbai and Dhaka.
Backed by a Strong Fleet Expansion
With a rapid fleet expansion, the airline is continuously increasing its capacity. It is on two different missions: consolidation in the domestic market and expansion in the international one.
Since privatization, Air India Express has increased its fleet by 22 Boeing 737 MAXs. Many of these jets are fitted with a premium cabin, as they were inherited from Chinese carriers. By the end of 2024, it is expected to receive 15 more Boeing 737s, which will be used to increase the international network.
Conclusion: Air India Express Planning Dhaka Ops
With a rapid fleet expansion, Air India Express is looking to increase its international network. In an agent briefing, the airline CCO confirmed the airline’s intention to start flights between India and Bangladesh. From mid-July, it is expected to start daily services connecting Dhaka to Chennai and Kolkata. It is also aiming to launch flights to Chittagong in a phased manner.
What do you think about the planned Bangladesh entry of Air India Express? Discuss in the comment section.
With Inputs From The Bangladesh Monitor
Featured Image Credits: Adznee Abas via Flickr
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