Flights between BD, India to resume from Oct 28

Dhaka: After almost an eight month long hiatus, Bangladesh will resume flights to India from October 28 under a bilateral air bubble agreement.

Air travel was suspended between the two countries following the coronavirus pandemic. According to reports, flights will now resume under an air bubble arrangement and travellers can once again fly between the two destinations.

Under the pact, both the countries can operate international flights; however, there will be a few restrictions. As of now, only three Bangladeshi carriers, NOVOAIR, Biman Bangladeshi Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines are allowed to operate 28 flights per week.

On the other hand, five Indian airlines, including IndiGo, Vistara, SpiceJet, Air India and GoAir will be allowed to operate the same number of flights in a week. The five Indian airlines are expected to operate flights on Dhaka-Delhi, Dhaka-Kolkata, Dhaka-Chennai and Dhaka-Mumbai routes.

Among the three Bangladeshi airlines, Biman will be operating flights on Dhaka-Delhi and Dhaka-Kolkata routes, US-Bangla Airlines on Dhaka-Chennai route while NOVOAIR on Dhaka-Kolkata route.

The decision to resume flights between the two countries was long due and was taken recently at an inter-ministerial meeting. The news has brought relief to several Bangladeshis who were eagerly waiting to travel to India for various purposes.

Nearly 28,76,000 Bangladeshis travelled to India between January 2018 and March 2019. Of which, 10 per cent travelled for medical treatment.

Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) said, the bilateral air travel agreement would allow around 5,000 passengers to travel each week from both the countries initially.