US-Bangla enters 13th year, eyes ambitious expansion plans
Dhaka: The country's largest private carrier US-Bangla Airlines has entered its 13th year of operations, marking the milestone with plans for further fleet growth and new international routes across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and North America.
The airline began commercial operations on July 17, 2014, launching its inaugural flight on the Dhaka-Jashore route with a Dash 8-Q400 aircraft. It currently serves five domestic destinations — Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, Saidpur, and Rajshahi — from Dhaka.
US-Bangla entered the international market on May 15, 2016, operating flights on the Dhaka-Kathmandu route. The network now connects 14 international destinations, including Kolkata, Chennai, Male, Muscat, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Riyadh, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, and Guangzhou.
Looking ahead, the airline plans to launch flights to several new destinations by 2027, including Dammam, Medina, Bahrain, Kuwait, Kathmandu, Colombo, Johor Bahru, Penang, and Hong Kong. It also intends to add London and Rome to its network by 2028, followed by New York, Toronto, and Sydney by 2030.
Since its launch, US-Bangla has expanded to a fleet of 25 aircraft, including three Airbus A330-300s and nine Boeing 737-800s, and has maintained an on-time performance record of over 90% since its inception.
The airline is set to induct additional Boeing 737-8 MAX and 737-800 aircraft into its fleet soon as part of its ongoing expansion strategy.
US-Bangla was named Best Domestic Airline for 2025, extending a streak that includes wins in 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as an earlier award in 2015.
The airline employs approximately 4,000 staff domestically and abroad and operates more than 40 sales offices worldwide, supplemented by ticketing support from numerous travel agencies and online platforms. Its loyalty program, Skystar, caters to frequent flyers.
US-Bangla holds several notable distinctions in Bangladesh's post-independence aviation history, including being the first domestic carrier to operate direct flights to mainland China, Chennai, and Male.
The airline has also emphasized passenger service innovations, including a program to deliver baggage within 15 minutes of landing on international flights.
Beyond passenger transport, US-Bangla operates cargo services to domestic and international destinations and has supported educational, social, cultural, and sports initiatives in Bangladesh.
Managing Director Mohammed Abdullah Al-Mamun said the airline remains prepared to meet competitive challenges in the aviation sector as it continues modernizing its fleet.
"In today's world, there is no alternative to modern aircraft to provide proper service to passengers," he said, adding that US-Bangla is committed to expanding its fleet to ensure passenger comfort.
Al-Mamun also expressed gratitude to government and private organizations, travel agents, tour operators, civil aviation authorities, and media outlets for their support over the past 12 years.
