A new Bangladeshi airline is preparing to start operations later this year, as a direct result of the country's new deregulation policy which is designed to encourage start-ups.
GMG Airlines will launch domestic and regional services from Dhaka, Bangladesh, within a few months operating a fleet of secondhand 33-seat Saab 340As and 64-seat Aero International Regional ATR 72s. The airline, which is being created by the Bangladeshi industrial conglomerate GMG Group, will commence operations with five aircraft.
GMG believes that there is a need to improve domestic services in the country, which is now served almost exclusively by the national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Shahab Sattar, GMG Airlines managing director, claims that he has already been in discussion with carriers such as British Airways and Singapore Airlines about improving connections from Dhaka.
The operational aspects of the new airline are being co-ordinated by Neil Hansford of the international consultancy company Butler Aircraft Services. Hansford was instrumental in the development of TNT's European air network, and later responsible for setting up the now defunct UK regional airline Euro Direct. Butler has provided advice on the aircraft selection, and will supply the aircraft and crews to the airline on wet-lease, along with engineering support.
Once the airline is established, GMG may expand into domestic cargo and helicopter services supporting offshore oil operations.
Source: Flight International