Sensing significant decrease in the number of inbound air passengers, Novoair, one of the major private airlines of the country, is going to expand its wing on different international routes, reducing the number of domestic flights.
“We are planning to expand routes in both the Middle East and Southeast Asia to serve more international passengers. As part of this plan, we will operate flights on six new international routes,” Novoair Managing Director Mofizur Rahman told the Daily Sun.
Novoair will launch flights to Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in Southeast Asia and Sharjah, Dubai and Muscat in the Middle East, he added.
Novoair is likely to add three Airbus 321 aircraft to its fleet to launch the proposed international flights. Two of these aircraft will land soon.
According to Rahman, the number of passengers on domestic routes has decreased significantly.
“Since the Padma Bridge was opened, the demand of air tickets on various routes, especially on Barishal and Jashore routes, has decreased. Therefore, we are reducing some domestic flights and eying to fly on some international routes,” he said.
The Novoair managing director observed that the total number of domestic passengers was 30 percent or 56,000 low in December 2023 compared to December 2022.
Apart from development of the country’s road communications system, higher air fare has also discouraged the passengers to travel by air.
He stressed on creating a business-friendly environment to save the private airlines. Otherwise, the airlines business would be completely in the hands of foreigners, he added.
Mofizur Rahman said Novoair had seven ATR-72 aircraft on its fleet. It sold two of the aircrafts of its fleet to Nepal’s Yeti Airlines. Two ATR-72 model turboprop type aircraft were handed over to Yeti Airlines on Thursday. Now domestic flights will be operated with the remaining 5 aircraft.
Apart from Novoair’s two aircraft, Yeti recently signed an agreement to purchase two ATR-72 aircraft from Airstream International, a UK-based company.
Established in 2007, Novoair started its journey in 2013 with the launch of commercial flights. Apart from domestic routes the airline currently operates international flights on Dhaka-Kolkata route. Novoair mainly serves seven domestic airports in the country.