US-Bangla Airlines marks 12 years of operations

US-Bangla Airlines, one of the leading private carriers in Bangladesh, entered its 13th year of operations on Friday, marking 12 years since launching its inaugural flight on the Dhaka-Jashore route with a Dash 8-Q400 aircraft back on 17 July 2014.

Over the past 12 years, the airline has expanded its fleet to 25 aircraft, comprising three Airbus A330-300s, nine Boeing 737-800s, 10 ATR 72-600s and three Dash 8-Q400s. The carrier said it has consistently maintained an on-time performance rate of more than 90 percent since the start of operations, said a press release.

Marking the anniversary, Managing Director Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mamun said US-Bangla was well prepared to meet growing competition in the global aviation industry.

He said operating a modern fleet was essential to providing quality service and added that the airline would continue acquiring new aircraft to enhance passenger comfort and operational efficiency.

Al-Mamun also said the carrier was proud of its contribution to Bangladesh's economic development.

He thanked government agencies, private organisations, travel agents, tour operators, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), corporate partners, media organisations, journalists and the airline's employees for their support over the past 12 years.

US-Bangla currently operates domestic flights from Dhaka to Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, Saidpur and Rajshahi. The airline launched its first international service to Kathmandu on May 15, 2016, and now serves Kolkata, Chennai, Malé, Muscat, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Riyadh, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok and Guangzhou.

The airline said it plans to expand its fleet by adding 15 Boeing 737-8 aircraft and six Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft by 2027. It also confirmed plans to resume scheduled flights to Kathmandu later this year.

As part of its international expansion strategy, US-Bangla plans to launch services to Kuwait, Bahrain, Madinah, Dammam, Colombo, Johor Bahru, Penang and Hong Kong by 2027, focusing on destinations with large Bangladeshi expatriate communities.

The carrier also aims to begin flights to London, Rome and other European cities by 2028, followed by services to New York, Toronto and Sydney by 2030.

US-Bangla was named 'Best Domestic Airline' in 2025, having previously received the award in 2015, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

The airline currently employs nearly 4,000 people in Bangladesh and overseas and said it contributes significantly to the national economy through taxes and surcharges.

Tickets are available through the airline's website, mobile application, more than 40 sales offices in Bangladesh and abroad, and an extensive network of travel agencies. It also operates the SkyStar frequent flyer programme.

US-Bangla said it was the first Bangladeshi airline since independence to operate direct flights to China, Chennai in India and Malé in the Maldives.

The carrier also said it delivers checked baggage within 15 minutes of international flight arrivals as part of its customer service standards.

In addition to passenger operations, the airline provides domestic and international cargo services and has supported a range of educational, social, cultural and sporting initiatives since its establishment.