11 June 2007

Dubai: Sharjah-based budget carrier Air ArabiaAir Arabia will begin twice-weekly flights between the emirate and Chittagong, Bangladesh, starting June 18, the company said in a statement.

Air ArabiaAir Arabia's direct flights to Chittagong, the second-largest city in Bangladesh, will mark the inauguration of the carrier's service to the country and will be particularly attractive to labourers, who will be able to save at least 30 to 45 per cent on air tickets.

The announcement is welcome news for the 500,000-strong non-resident Bangladeshi (NRB) community, majority of whom hail from Chitta-gong, Bangladesh's largest district and commercial gateway. This will be the first direct flight between Chittagong and the UAE.

Kyle Haywood, commercial director of Air ArabiaAir Arabia, said: "We are extremely pleased to announce the launch of Air ArabiaAir Arabia flights to Chittagong, which will provide comfortable and competitively priced service for both the expatriate Bangladeshi population in the UAE and the Bangla-deshi community seeking to visit this booming Gulf state.

"With a population of nearly four million and as the country's primary seaport, Chittagong is the commercial and manufacturing capital of Bangla-desh.

Nearly all imports and exports flow through the city, as do most investors looking to establish operations in the country. Air ArabiaAir Arabia is delighted to demonstrate its commitment to regional low-cost travel by launching services to this increasingly important South Asian state."

The frequency of flights to Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong is twice-weekly, on Mondays and Fridays.

The flight will depart from Sharjah at 7.15am and arrive in Chittagong at 13.50pm local time. On the same days, flights will depart from Chittagong at 14.35pm and arrive in Sharjah at 17:30pm local time.

By Staff Reporter

© Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.