US-Bangla plans to expand to 30 overseas destinations by 2027, launch second airline
The airline says 21 new aircraft will join its fleet in 2027, supporting expansion to 30 international destinations across 20 countries and the launch of a separate low-cost carrier.
Highlights:
- US-Bangla targets 30 overseas destinations by 2027
- US-Bangla to launch second airline on 29 July
- Airline to add 21 new aircraft in 2027
- US-Bangla plans full-service, low-cost carriers
- Airline eyes Japan, South Korea, Brunei expansion
The US-Bangla Airlines plans to expand its international network to 30 destinations across 20 countries by December 2027 and launch a second airline under the US-Bangla Group, the airline's Managing Director Mohammed Abdullah Al Mamun announced today (19 July).
"The US-Bangla Group will operate two separate airlines, a full-service carrier and a low-cost carrier [LCC], to serve different categories of passengers. An official announcement will be made on 29 July in Dhaka," he said at a Meet the Press programme in Cox's Bazar, marking the airline's entry into its 13th year of operations, according to a press release.
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Mamun said 21 brand-new aircraft would join the fleet between January and December 2027, enabling the airline to launch services to new international destinations using newly manufactured aircraft.
"The future fleet would feature wireless in-flight entertainment, onboard internet connectivity and mobile charging facilities at every seat, with complimentary internet access planned for passengers," he added.
According to Mamun, US-Bangla and its sister concern Air Astra together account for around 75% of Bangladesh's domestic aviation market.
"US-Bangla alone operates approximately 94 domestic flights and 30 international flights daily, amounting to around 3,500 flights each month," he said.
Highlighting the airline's international expansion, Mamun 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.
He said the Chennai route was introduced primarily to facilitate Bangladeshi patients seeking medical treatment in southern India, while the Maldives service significantly reduced travel costs for Bangladeshi migrant workers.
On safety, Mamun said the airline complies with IATA Ground Operations Safety Audit (IGOM) standards and follows international training practices adopted by airlines such as Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways.
He added that US-Bangla had sponsored overseas pilot training for 50 Bangladeshi youths selected through the Bangladesh Air Force and plans to send another 200 trainees abroad in the future.
"The airline pays around Tk500 crore annually to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) in revenue," he said.
Calling for greater policy support for the aviation sector, Mamun said stronger participation by Bangladeshi airlines in international markets would help retain foreign currency and strengthen the country's aviation industry.
According to the release, US-Bangla, which began operations in 2014 with domestic flights on the Jessore route, currently serves six domestic routes and 14 international destinations across 10 countries.
The airline operates a fleet of 25 aircraft, including three Airbus A330-300s, nine Boeing 737-800s and ATR 72-600 aircraft, and currently operates around 100 flights daily.
It is also planning to launch services to Phuket, Brunei, South Korea, Japan, Dammam and Madinah, subject to regulatory approvals and bilateral agreements. Currently, US-Bangla flies to destinations including Qatar, Oman, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah and Riyadh in the Middle East, and Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in Southeast Asia.
