Local Bangladeshi airways set to international flight

Local private carrier United Airways is set to launch flight on Monday to the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, a popular destination already directly served by four other airlines. According to officials, the airline will operate two flights every week with an introductory promotional fare. United will also start operation on Dhaka- Katmandu route on January 4. Four weekly flights will be operated on this popular tourist destination, currently served by Biman Bangladesh Airlines and GNG Airlines. There will also be an introductory promotional fare for this route. With the launching of these two new routes, the number of the carrier's international destinations will rise to five. Currently, United flies to Kolkata, Dubai and London. The local carrier will have to compete with Biman Bangladesh Airlines, GMG Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia, a Malaysia-based budget carrier, for its share of business. 'Yes, we did the market research before making a decision. Our market research says the routes will be viable,' Jilanee FR Chowdhury, director (Sales and Marketing) of United Airways, told New Age. Responding to a question regarding Dhaka- Kuala Lumpur, he admitted that initially the airline might face little problem due to the issues relating to Bangladesh's manpower export to Malaysia. 'In this regard, we are thinking more about the future.' About Katmandu, Jilanee said, 'Apart from passengers using Dhaka-Kathmandu route, we have a target of carrying passengers from Nepal to Malaysia. The schedule of these two routes will be done to facilitate that.' To a question, he informed that the introductory promotional return fare (including taxes) for Kuala Lumpur and Katmandu would be Tk 19,900 and Tk 13,671 respectively. 'These fares will be the cheapest at the moment.' He also said that MD-83 aircraft would be used on both these routes. About the fleet expansion, the director said that another MD-83 aircraft would be inducted by this month to the fleet of two Dash-8 and one MD-83. He said as part of the expansion plan, the airline would launch flights on Dhaka-Bangkok route within about a month. Jilanee said the process of procuring a Boeing- 767 had already begun and the aircraft was expected to join the fleet by April 2010. After the arrival of the Boeing-767, he said it would be used straightway in flights to London, currently served by MD-83, a relatively smaller aircraft. 'The aircraft will also be used in new flights to Saudi Arabia.' About Dhaka-Dubai and Dhaka-London routes, Jilanee said the Middle Eastern route was doing okay while it would take some time to get hold the passengers of Dhaka-London sector.