US-Bangla Airlines to Resume Dhaka-Kathmandu Flights in September
Dhaka: US-Bangla Airlines is set to resume scheduled flights between Dhaka and Kathmandu in September, marking its return to the Nepal route after nearly eight years.
According to sources, the airline plans to initially operate four weekly flights using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The move is expected to enhance connectivity between Bangladesh and Nepal while offering passengers more travel options.
Confirming the development, US-Bangla Airlines General Manager (Public Relations) Kamrul Islam said the airline is in the final stages of preparations to restart operations on the Dhaka-Kathmandu route.
“US-Bangla Airlines is going to start flights on the Dhaka-Kathmandu route very soon. Necessary preparations are in the final stages, and a formal announcement will be made soon,” he said.
Industry stakeholders have welcomed the airline’s return to the route, noting that it will increase competition in a market currently served by a limited number of carriers. Greater competition is expected to result in more competitive airfares, improved flight schedules and better services for passengers.
The resumption is also expected to benefit tourists, business travellers and pilgrims travelling between Bangladesh and Nepal by providing additional travel options.
Aviation industry analysts believe passengers will be the biggest beneficiaries of the increased competition, as airlines are likely to offer more competitive pricing and enhanced services.
US-Bangla Airlines suspended operations on the Dhaka-Kathmandu route following the tragic crash of Flight BS211 at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on March 12, 2018. The Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 aircraft, operating from Dhaka, crashed while landing, killing 51 of the 71 people on board, including four crew members. The accident remains one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Bangladesh’s civil aviation history.
The airline’s planned return to the Kathmandu route is being viewed as an important step in rebuilding regional connectivity and expanding its international network.