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| Founded | 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 24 November 2022 [1] | ||||||
| Hubs | Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 4 | ||||||
| Destinations | 5 | ||||||
| Parent company | Astra Airways Limited | ||||||
| Headquarters | Dhaka, Bangladesh [2] | ||||||
| Key people | Imran Asif (CEO) [3] | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Air Astra is a privately owned Bangladeshi airline based at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The airline has its corporate headquarters at Siaam Tower in Uttara, Dhaka.
The airline was expected to commence its operation in January 2022. [4] However, the dates were pushed forward further into 2022 and after acquiring their air operator's certificate the airline was cleared to commence its operations. [5] Air Astra, the first private airline to be introduced in Bangladesh since 2013, started its commercial operation on 24 November 2022, with Dhaka as its hub. The airline inaugurated its operation with daily three flights on Dhaka–Cox's Bazar–Dhaka route and three daily flights on Dhaka-Chittagong–Dhaka route. [6] On 23 February 2023, the new airline launched Dhaka - Sylhet flight for first time. [7] [8] On 14 May 2024, Air Astra launched daily flights between Dhaka - Saidpur - Dhaka. As of November 2022, Air Astra operates 14 flights daily. [9]
As of November 2024, Air Astra serves the following destinations:
The airline started its commercial operation with two ATR 72-600s. On January 18, Air Astra received another ATR 72-600 aircraft. The airline had planned to increase its fleet to 10 aircraft by 2025. [10] As of December 2023, Air Astra's fleet consists of the following aircraft: [11]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | E | Total | ||||
| ATR 72-600 | 4 | 6 | – | 70 | 70 | |
| Total | 4 | 6 | ||||
Transport in Bangladesh is dominated by roadways, accounting for the majority of both passenger and cargo traffic due to substantial development efforts since independence. Eight major national highways connect the capital, Dhaka, with divisional and district headquarters, port cities, and international routes. Despite this, vehicle usage per capita remains low, with non-motorised modes prevailing. However, Bangladesh's roads are unsafe, having one of the highest road accident fatality rates. They also suffer from high congestion, as well as severe air and noise pollution.
Drukair Corporation Limited, operating as Drukair — Royal Bhutan Airlines, is the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bhutan, headquartered in the western dzongkhag of Paro.
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is the main international airport serving Dhaka City, the capital city of Bangladesh, and it is the largest airport in Bangladesh. It is located in Kurmitola, 17 km (11 mi) from the city centre, in the northern part of Dhaka. The airport is also used as a base for the Bangladesh Air Force, named BAF Base Bangabandhu. The airport has an area of 802 hectares. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) operates and maintains the airport. It started operations in 1980, taking over from Tejgaon Airport as the principal international airport of the country. The airport was formerly known as Dacca International Airport and later as Zia International Airport, before being named in honour of Shah Jalal, who is one of the most respected Sufi saints of Bangladesh. The IATA code of the airport, "DAC", is derived from "Dacca", which is the previously used spelling for "Dhaka".
Shah Amanat International Airport, Chattogram is an international airport serving Bangladesh's southeastern port city of Chattogram. Operated and maintained by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, it is the second-largest international airport in Bangladesh after Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is used by the Bangladesh Air Force as a part of 'BAF Zahurul Haq Base'. It was formerly known as MA Hannan International Airport, named after Awami League politician M. A. Hannan, but was renamed on 2 April 2005 by the Government of Bangladesh, after an 18th-century Islamic saint, Shah Amanat. It is capable of annually handling 1.5 million passengers and 6,000 tonnes of cargo. It also serves as a base for the Arirang Flying School.
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Osmani International Airport in Sylhet, is the third largest airport in Bangladesh after Dhaka and Chittagong. The airport is operated by the Civil Aviation Authority and is served by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national airline, which at one point earned most of its revenue from this airport. Private airlines Novoair and US-Bangla Airlines operate domestic flights to Dhaka.
Cox's Bazar Airport is an domestic airport in the resort town of Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh. It is in the process of being upgraded to an international airport. The airport serves the residents of Cox's Bazar as well as tourists to the region. Cox's Bazar Airport is undergoing massive expansion, which is due to be completed by 2023.
Shah Makhdum Airport is a domestic airport serving Rajshahi, the principal city of the Rajshahi Division in Bangladesh. The airport is located at Nowhata, about 10 kilometers away from city center of Rajshahi and named after Sufi saint Shah Makhdum Rupos. The airport also serves as a base for two flying training academies.
Saipur Airport is a domestic airport located in Saidpur, Rangpur Division, Bangladesh. The airport is operated by the Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Novoair, Air Astra & US-Bangla Airlines operate the flights to Dhaka, Chittagong & Cox’s Bazar.
The history of aviation in Bangladesh began with kites, the traditional heavier-than-air man-made object, that is flown by one or more people while staying on the ground. The first recorded manned flight was arranged by the Dhaka Nawab Family in 1882, which resulted in the death of the flyer.
United Airways (BD) Ltd., operated as United Airways, was a Bangladeshi airline headquartered in Uttara, Dhaka. It operated flights from its main hub at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and secondary hub at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong. It was founded in 2005 and began flights on 10 July 2007 with a Bombardier Dash 8–100, purchased from Island Air. United Airways was the first listed company in the aviation sector of Bangladesh; it became listed in July 2010.
Regent Airways was a Bangladeshi airline owned by HG Aviation Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Habib Group. It is based at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Due to its bad financial condition, it is looking for investors to raise funds and resume operations. Since March 2020, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the airline suspended its operation and has not resumed since.
Novoair is a Bangladeshi airline based in Dhaka operating mostly domestic flights. It operates 25 flights each day from Dhaka to its eight destinations.
US-Bangla Airlines is the largest airline in Bangladesh by fleet size. The airline is headquartered in Dhaka and based at Shahjalal International Airport under the umbrella companies of US-Bangla Group.
Jobike is a bicycle sharing system serving the cities of Dhaka, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar. Launched in 2018, it is the first such system in Bangladesh. Currently, there are 300 Jobike bicycles and 5 stations throughout these city, including some university like University of Dhaka, Jahangirnagar University, University of Chittagong, and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, as well as suburban places like Cox's Bazar.
The Cox's Bazar Express is a non-stop intercity train belonging to Bangladesh Railway – East Zone that runs between Dhaka and Cox's Bazar railway station from 1 December 2023. This is the first commercial train that gives service in Cox's Bazar.
The Parjatak Express is a non-stop intercity train belonging to Bangladesh Railway – East Zone that runs between Dhaka and Cox's Bazar railway station from 10 January 2024. This is the second commercial train that gives service in Cox's Bazar.
Fly Dhaka Airlines or simply Fly Dhaka, is a planned private airline in Bangladesh. It is headquartered in Dhaka. The airline is set to be commencing operations from November 2024.
Media related to Air Astra at Wikimedia Commons
