US-Bangla marks a decade in the skies, eyes on major expansion
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After completing a successful decade of operations, private carrier US-Bangla Airlines is embarking on a new phase of expansion. On July 17, the airline completed 12 years of operations and stepped into its 13th year. Marking the milestone, US-Bangla extended greetings and gratitude to its well-wishers.
The airline began operations on July 17, 2014, on the Dhaka-Jashore route with a Dash8-Q400 aircraft. US-Bangla currently has a fleet of 25 aircraft, including three Airbus A330-300s and nine Boeing 737-800s. With this fleet, the airline now operates flights to 20 destinations. Since its inception, the carrier has maintained an on-time performance record of more than 90 percent.
Within Bangladesh, US-Bangla operates flights from Dhaka to Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet, Saidpur and Rajshahi. The airline launched its international operations on May 15, 2016, with flights on the Dhaka-Kathmandu route. It now operates regular flights to multiple destinations, including Kolkata, Chennai, Malé, Muscat, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Riyadh, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok and Guangzhou. The airline also plans to resume flights on the Kathmandu route this year.
Drawing on a decade of experience, US-Bangla has taken up an ambitious expansion plan. By 2027, it plans to add 15 Boeing 737-8 aircraft and six Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft to its fleet. Within the same period, the airline expects to launch flights to destinations across the Middle East and Asia, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Madinah, Dammam, Colombo, Johor Bahru, Penang and Hong Kong. By 2028, it plans to operate flights to various European destinations, including London and Rome, and by 2030, it aims to launch services to New York, Toronto and Sydney.
In recognition of its achievements, US-Bangla won the ‘Best Domestic Airlines’ award in 2025. The carrier also received the same recognition in 2015, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
US-Bangla employs nearly 4,000 people at home and abroad, contributing to job creation. The airline also contributes to the country’s economy by regularly paying taxes and surcharges and earning foreign currency through its international operations.
The airline also highlighted several initiatives aimed at improving passenger services. It is working toward a goal of delivering baggage within 15 minutes of an international flight’s arrival. The airline is focusing on service improvements under the concept: “It is not the passengers who will wait, but the baggage.”
US-Bangla offers ticket booking through its website and mobile app. In addition to more than 40 of its own sales offices in Bangladesh and abroad, tickets are sold through several thousand travel agencies and online platforms. The airline also operates the “SkyStar” frequent flyer program for regular passengers.
According to the press release, US-Bangla is the first Bangladeshi airline since independence to operate direct flights to destinations in China, Chennai in India and Malé, the capital of the Maldives.
US-Bangla is involved not only in passenger transportation but also in cargo operations on domestic and international routes. The airline also sponsors educational, social and cultural activities, as well as sports development initiatives.
“We are prepared to face any challenge in a competitive world. There is no alternative to modern aircraft in ensuring quality passenger service, so we have continued to expand our fleet,” said Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mamun, Managing Director of US-Bangla Airlines.
“Government and private institutions, travel agents, tour operators, the Civil Aviation Authority, corporate organizations, media professionals and our employees have all contributed to this decade of success. We are grateful to everyone,” he added.
Throughout its decade-long journey, US-Bangla Airlines has contributed to the country’s development not only through passenger and cargo transportation on domestic and international routes, but also by sponsoring education, culture and sports.
