US-Bangla unveils global expansion plans

US-Bangla Airlines is planning to resume flights to Kathmandu in September after a long suspension, as the country’s largest private airline moves to expand its international network. The airline's Managing Director Mohammed Abdullah Al Mamun announced the plan at a press conference held at a hotel in Cox’s Bazar on Sunday evening.

“Kathmandu is an important international destination for us. We are working to resume flights on this route in September, subject to completing the necessary preparations and regulatory approvals,” Mamun said.

He said the resumption of direct flights would facilitate tourism, trade and business between Bangladesh and Nepal while making travel between the two countries easier.

“US-Bangla is committed to providing passengers with improved and reliable services through fleet expansion and the launch of new international routes,” he added.

The Kathmandu relaunch is part of the airline’s broader international expansion strategy. US-Bangla plans to add 15 Boeing 737-8 aircraft and six Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft to its fleet by 2027.

During the same period, the airline plans to launch flights to several new international destinations, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Madinah, Dammam, Colombo, Johor Bahru, Penang and Hong Kong.

The airline also has longer-term plans to launch flights to major European cities, including London and Rome, by 2028.
By 2030, it aims to expand its network to destinations including New York, Toronto and Sydney.

US-Bangla began operations on 17 July 2014 with a Dash 8-Q400 aircraft on the Dhaka–Jessore route.The airline currently operates a fleet of 25 aircraft, including three Airbus A330-300s and nine Boeing 737-800s.

Since launching operations, the airline has maintained an on-time performance rate of more than 90 per cent, according to the company.
US-Bangla currently operates flights to five domestic destinations and several international destinations, including Kolkata, Chennai, Malé, Muscat, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Riyadh, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok and Guangzhou.

The planned return to Kathmandu comes as Bangladesh’s private aviation sector seeks to strengthen direct air connectivity with regional and global destinations.

The airline’s expansion plans are expected to increase competition in the international aviation market while providing Bangladeshi travellers with more direct travel options across South Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and, eventually, Europe, North America and Australia.