US-Bangla targets 30 overseas destinations by 2027

US-Bangla Airlines plans to expand its international network to 30 destinations across 20 countries by December 2027, while preparing to launch a second airline under the US-Bangla Group.

The announcement was made by US-Bangla Airlines Managing Director Mohammed Abdullah Al Mamun at a Meet the Press programme in Cox’s Bazar on Sunday, marking the airline’s entry into its 13th year of operations.

The group plans to operate two separate carriers, a full-service airline and a low-cost carrier (LCC), to serve different categories of passengers.

An official announcement on the second airline is expected in Dhaka on 29 July, according to press release.

US-Bangla plans to add 21 brand-new aircraft to its fleet between January and December 2027.

The new aircraft will enable the airline to launch flights to additional international destinations using newly manufactured planes, the managing director said.

The future fleet is expected to feature wireless in-flight entertainment, onboard internet connectivity and mobile charging facilities at every seat. Complimentary internet access is also planned for passengers.

“US-Bangla Group will operate two separate airlines, a full-service carrier and a low-cost carrier, to serve different categories of passengers,” Mamun said.

The expansion comes as Bangladesh’s private aviation sector seeks to strengthen its position in the international market and retain a greater share of the country’s growing outbound travel demand.

US-Bangla and its sister concern Air Astra currently account for around 75% of Bangladesh’s domestic aviation market, according to Mamun.

US-Bangla alone operates approximately 94 domestic and 30 international flights a day, totalling around 3,500 flights a month, he said.
The airline currently operates a fleet of 25 aircraft, including three Airbus A330-300s, nine Boeing 737-800s and ATR 72-600 aircraft.
It operates around 100 flights daily and currently serves six domestic routes and 14 international destinations across 10 countries.

The airline is also planning to launch flights to Phuket, Brunei, South Korea, Japan, Dammam and Madinah, subject to regulatory approvals and bilateral agreements.

Its existing international network includes destinations such as Qatar, Oman, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah and Riyadh in the Middle East, as well as Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in Southeast Asia.

Mamun highlighted the airline's role in expanding Bangladesh's direct international air connectivity.

He said US-Bangla was the first Bangladeshi private airline after independence to launch direct flights to Chennai and China, as well as services to the Maldives.

The Chennai route was introduced primarily to support Bangladeshi patients travelling to southern India for medical treatment, while the Maldives service helped reduce travel costs for Bangladeshi migrant workers, he said.

On aviation safety, Mamun said the airline complies with IATA Ground Operations Safety Audit (IGOM) standards and follows international training practices adopted by leading global airlines.

The airline has also sponsored overseas pilot training for 50 Bangladeshi youths selected through the Bangladesh Air Force, with plans to send another 200 trainees abroad in the future.

US-Bangla pays around Tk500 crore annually to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) in revenue, Mamun said. He called for stronger policy support for the aviation sector, saying greater participation by Bangladeshi airlines in international markets would help retain foreign currency within the country and strengthen the national aviation industry.

US-Bangla began operations in 2014 with domestic flights on the Jessore route.

Over the next 18 months, the airline's planned fleet expansion and new destinations could significantly reshape Bangladesh's international aviation market.

The launch of a second airline under the US-Bangla Group would also introduce a new business model to the country's aviation sector, with full-service and low-cost operations targeting different passenger segments.