China Southern to connect Dhaka with Guangzhou from next month
Thursday, 4 June 2009
Mehdi Musharraf Bhuiyan
China Southern Airlines; a leading Chinese international airliner, will be starting its operation in Bangladesh in the first week of July next, in a bid to cash in on the country's growing air traffic with China's booming south.
The airliner, based in China's southern city of Guangzhou in the province of Guandong, is set to be the first carrier to directly link the country with the ever-growing business hub of Southern China.
"We are going to offer three flights a week between Dhaka and Guangzhou starting from the first week of July," Mofizur Rahman, Managing Director of Novo Air Limited; the General Sales Agent of Southern China Airlines in Bangladesh told the FE.
The move is a timely one for the country's aviation sector, the industry insiders observed, given the increasing trade volume of the country with the south and southwestern regions of China.
China Southern; which claims to be the largest airline in Asia in terms of fleet size and passengers carried, has a wide destination network around Mainland China as well as Southeast Asia.
The airliner offers regular flights to several major cities of South Asia including Delhi, Kathmandu and Islamabad. In recent times, it has embarked on a major expansion of its network in Europe and South America.
"Mainly, we are targeting the business travellers as well as tourists," Mofizur said, " as the frequency of Bangladeshi air travellers visiting Guangzhou and adjacent regions have increased manifold in recent years".
Until now, passengers traveling to Guangzhou have no other option but to reach the city via Hong Kong availing Cathay Pacific, Biman or other international careers.
"A direct route between the two city would save a huge amount of time and money for these travelers while potentially increasing trade volume between the two countries," the industry insiders say.
"A wide range of commodities, including garments accessories, telecommunication equipments and furniture are imported in huge volume from the southern part of China to the country," Mofizur said, adding, "therefore, a direct route between these two trading zones are the call of the time".
Guangzhou, the third largest city in China in terms of area and population, sits at the center of Guandong- one of the most prosperous and industrially vibrant Chinese provinces which reportedly contributes 12 per cent of China's national economic output.
The city also hosts the largest Import and Export Fair in China; named the Canton Fair each year during the spring and autumn seasons.
China Southern Airlines; a leading Chinese international airliner, will be starting its operation in Bangladesh in the first week of July next, in a bid to cash in on the country's growing air traffic with China's booming south.
The airliner, based in China's southern city of Guangzhou in the province of Guandong, is set to be the first carrier to directly link the country with the ever-growing business hub of Southern China.
"We are going to offer three flights a week between Dhaka and Guangzhou starting from the first week of July," Mofizur Rahman, Managing Director of Novo Air Limited; the General Sales Agent of Southern China Airlines in Bangladesh told the FE.
The move is a timely one for the country's aviation sector, the industry insiders observed, given the increasing trade volume of the country with the south and southwestern regions of China.
China Southern; which claims to be the largest airline in Asia in terms of fleet size and passengers carried, has a wide destination network around Mainland China as well as Southeast Asia.
The airliner offers regular flights to several major cities of South Asia including Delhi, Kathmandu and Islamabad. In recent times, it has embarked on a major expansion of its network in Europe and South America.
"Mainly, we are targeting the business travellers as well as tourists," Mofizur said, " as the frequency of Bangladeshi air travellers visiting Guangzhou and adjacent regions have increased manifold in recent years".
Until now, passengers traveling to Guangzhou have no other option but to reach the city via Hong Kong availing Cathay Pacific, Biman or other international careers.
"A direct route between the two city would save a huge amount of time and money for these travelers while potentially increasing trade volume between the two countries," the industry insiders say.
"A wide range of commodities, including garments accessories, telecommunication equipments and furniture are imported in huge volume from the southern part of China to the country," Mofizur said, adding, "therefore, a direct route between these two trading zones are the call of the time".
Guangzhou, the third largest city in China in terms of area and population, sits at the center of Guandong- one of the most prosperous and industrially vibrant Chinese provinces which reportedly contributes 12 per cent of China's national economic output.
The city also hosts the largest Import and Export Fair in China; named the Canton Fair each year during the spring and autumn seasons.