Bangladesh aviation faces challenges in expanding international routes

Bangladesh maintains bilateral Air Service Agreements (ASA) with 55 countries, providing the legal framework for international flight operations. However, domestic airlines currently face limited international presence despite these existing agreements and available market demand.

Expanding international routes requires more than just legal permission; airlines must navigate high operational costs, including aircraft availability, passenger demand, cargo potential, airport and ground handling fees, and various taxes and VAT. To improve competitiveness, there is a call for the government to provide policy and financial incentives, such as reviewing airport charges and tax structures, similar to how other nations support their national carriers to boost tourism and connectivity.

In the aviation sector, Biman Bangladesh Airlines is currently working to expand its fleet, which presently consists of 19 aircraft.