FE REPORT
Saudi Arabia's low-cost carrier Flyadeal formally launched its operations in Bangladesh on Tuesday, marking its entry with an inauguration ceremony held at a city hotel.
The airline, a subsidiary of the Saudia Group, had already commenced its Dhaka services on October 22, offering affordable direct flights between Jeddah and Dhaka.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, who attended the ceremony as the chief guest, highlighted the growing pressure on Dhaka's airport infrastructure.
He noted that the airport, originally designed to accommodate 8 million passengers annually, currently handles over 13 million, with projections indicating that this number could reach 20 million in the near future.
"To manage this growing demand, we are expanding with the construction of the third terminal at Dhaka airport, which will provide significantly more capacity," he said.
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Addressing concerns about rising airfares, particularly for migrant workers, the adviser pointed out that Bangladesh's low-cost carriers often charge higher prices than legacy airlines.
"I want to fix this issue and make low-cost airlines competitive," he said.
"With Flyadeal launching operations, additional supply will help bring more affordability to the market. You have my support," he added.
Flyadeal's CEO Steven Greenway presented key achievements of the airline since its establishment, noting that the carrier has already flown over 40 million passengers, operates 230 daily flights, and serves more than 32 year-round and seasonal destinations across 60 routes.
Although positioned as a low-cost airline, Flyadeal announced that it is offering complimentary full-course meals and free baggage allowances, similar to legacy carriers, a move aimed at providing greater value to passengers travelling to and from Bangladesh.
The carrier announced plans to increase flight frequencies, explore additional Bangladeshi destinations, and operate Hajj flights in 2026 as part of its long-term expansion strategy.
Saudi Ambassador to Dhaka Dr Abdullah Zafer bin Abiyah, General Sales Agent (GSA) for Flyadeal in Bangladesh Mokarram Siddiq, among others, were present at the inauguration ceremony.
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