A Thailand-based private airline, Orient Thai Airlines, eyes to operate passenger flights from Dhaka, as the airline sees business friendly environment exists in Bangladesh. Orient Thai Chairman Udom Tantiprasongchai unveiled the plan during a meeting with travel agents in Dhaka on November 3 organised by Speed Aviation Limited. An agreement between Orient Thai and Speed Aviation has also been signed for doing feasibility study to operate passenger flights from Dhaka.

Tantiprasongchai however pointed out that the three-month open sky policy by the Bangladesh government is not enough for airlines to start operations. He sought travel agents’ cooperation to pursue Bangladesh government for extension of the open sky policy. Industry experts said one factor attracting the fresh investment into the sector is the opportunity stemming from a backlog of some 150,000 people who have found jobs in Malaysia and the Middle East but are unable to fly due to shortage of flights.

In September, Malaysia-based budget airline AirAsia announced its operations from Bangladesh after Bangladesh adopted open sky policy allowing foreign airlines more flights. The government approved open sky policy in September for three airports of the country for the next three months with a view to easing the air travel problems of Bangladesh nationals. The aviation market in Bangladesh shows around 8 percent growth per annum, according to the industry experts.

Hicky Diaz of Speed Aviation also requested the travel agents to appeal to the government for extension of open sky policy. Ehteshamul Haque, managing director of Travel Smart Limited, and Zaman, managing director of Vantage Travel, also spoke at the discussion.