Regent Airways, one of the leading private airlines in the country, launched international flights from Bangladesh. The airline spread its wings for international arena by launching flights from Dhaka to Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia.

On the occasion of launching its international journey, Regent Airways management held a press conference at a hotel in the capital 

Norlin Binti Othman, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bangladesh, Mashrur Habib, Managing Director and Imran Asif, Chief Executive Officer, Regent Airways were present at the press conference, among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Norlin Binti Othman said that Bangladesh and Malaysia has a warm relationship since a long. Private initiatives like launching direct flights to Kuala Lumpur from Dhaka would strengthen the existing relations. People of both the countries will utilise the opportunities of easy travel, she hoped.

The airline leased the two Boeing B737-700 aircraft from International Lease Finance Corporation for a period of six years. The aircrafts underwent extensive pre-delivery maintenance checks at the Goodyear airport in Arizona, said the statement. 

The airline received permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) last year to launch international flights. Last month, a team from CAAB’s airworthiness division and Regent Airways visited the US for a technical inspection and compliance audit for the aircrafts’ import and registration in Bangladesh. 

With configuration for business and economy class, the plane is equipped with modern avionics for flight safety and fuel-saving winglets, said the statement.

Since inception in November 2010, the airline carried more than five lakh passengers on domestic routes.

 

Westin Dhaka management has appointed Reshma Begum as “Public Area Ambassador” in the House Keeping department as part of the hotel’s initiative to care for community. 

Reshma Begum was pulled from the Rana Plaza rubble alive 17 days after the multistoried building collapsed. 

Salina Ali, Chairman, Unique Hotel and Resort Limited (UHRL) handed over the appointment letter to Reshma. 

Mohd. Noor Ali, Managing Director, Mohammed Mohsin, Chief Advisor, UHRL and Azeem Shah, General Manager, Westin Dhaka were also present on the occasion.

 “I’m blessed with a rewarding job in Westin Hotel. I’ve landed the job with the blessing of Allah—and I’m grateful to all,” said miracle girl Reshma.

Major-General Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardi, General Officer Commanding, Ninth Infantry Division said, “We got two formal job offers from Westin Hotel and Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel. Of them, Reshma chose Westin as her next workplace.”

 

TAC Aeronautical Academy has inaugurated their pilot training flights as well as its own hangar at Osmani International Airport, Sylhet. 

Muhammad Faruk Khan, Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, formally inaugurated the new venture of aviation field of the country as chief guest. 

Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, MP, Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Khurshid Alam Chowdhury, Secretary, Ministry for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Air Vice Marshal Mahmud Hussain, Chairman, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) attended the programme as special guests.

Capt Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury, Managing Director, TAC Aeronautical Academy said, “After successful operation of United Airways (BD) Ltd., I felt we should unite once again to create a world class pilot training academy and commuter airline in Bangladesh. So we have launched TAC Aeronautical Academy.” 

Leaders of different political parties, government officials, high officials of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, travel agents representatives and high officials of United Airways (BD) Ltd and TAC Aeronautical Academy also attended the programme.

 

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has finalised an interline agreement with Germany’s ticketing agent Hahn Air aiming to facilitate passengers to buy its tickets from across the globe.

“This means that using Hahn Air e-ticket platform, Biman Bangladesh Airlines can now interlink with over 150 airlines around the world. Biman tickets can now be sold in virtually every country in the world,” Kevin John Steele, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Biman said in a statement.

He said passengers could now buy tickets from Brazil to Egypt, New Zealand to Kenya and from Indonesia to Peru.

There has been a significant improvement in percentage on time and a good reduction in the average delays of Biman flights operated throughout May 2013.

The final punctuality of Biman during May 2013 was 59.7 per cent against 44.5 per cent during the same period last year.

“We are very close to our next target of over 60 per cent, but still some way to go to our mid-term target of 80 per cent,” Kevin said.

The average load factor was 65 per cent in May 2013, which was 61 per cent in the same period last year.

“This is a good and gratifying improvement, but still short of where we want to be,” the CEO of Biman mentioned.

Germany-based Hahn Air is known as the specialist in passenger airline ticketing and airline distribution worldwide.