Ethiopian Airlines, Air China to commence operations in Bangladesh from May

Ethiopian Airlines and Air China are set to begin operations in Bangladesh as of May 2024.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) is gearing up to facilitate flights for these two international carriers. CAAB Chairman, Air Vice Marshal Mafidur Rahman, announced to the media that preparations are in progress to assist Ethiopia Airlines and Air China. This move is in line with Bangladesh's ambition to establish itself as a prominent aviation hub.

CAAB has informed the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry and directed Biman Bangladesh Airlines to provide ground-handling services for these airlines.

Shohag Hossain, Managing Director of Rhythm Group, the airline's General Sales Agent (GSA) in Bangladesh, said, "We are hopeful to start our Addis Ababa-Dhaka-Addis Ababa direct flight third week of May. Initially, it will operate five weekly flights."

Ethiopian Airlines intends to commence flights between Addis Ababa and Dhaka in May, initially operating five weekly flights. Renowned for its extensive African network, the airline plans to gradually increase its frequency to daily flights using its Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft, facilitating connections for Bangladeshi expatriates to major European and North American cities from Addis Ababa.

The air service agreement between Ethiopia and Bangladesh was signed in December 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following diplomatic consultations. Ethiopian Airlines, with 147 aircraft, is Africa's largest airline and ranks as the world’s fourth-largest in terms of countries served.

Air China will also start operating two weekly flights on the Dhaka-Beijing-Dhaka route, responding to the growing connections between China and Bangladesh.

This move aims to streamline travel, as currently, flights from Dhaka to Chinese cities like Kunming and Guangzhou require additional transfers to reach the capitals. Air China, with a fleet of 497 aircraft, plans to expand its international and regional routes, adding to its existing 452 routes.