28.7.2008

Best Air, a private Bangladeshi carrier, commenced flight operations to Sri Lanka with their first filght arriving at the Bandaranaike International Airport this morning (28) to coincide with the start of the SAARC Summit, and marking the start of direct flights between Dhaka and Colombo.

It is expected that this will help strengthen ties between the two countries since it caters to the growing volume of traffic, an official said.

The new service is aimed at improving co-operation with better connectivity by air between regional capitals.

Best Air chairman Haider Uzzaman said they plan to start with two flights a week to Colombo and Male on Fridays and Mondays.

It is reported that a Colombo-Dhaka return air ticket will cost 799 dollars including taxes and service charges.

There is already a great demand due to increased commerce between the two countries owing to investments by Sri Lankan firms in Bangladesh in garments, hospitals, banking and schools.

Over 5,000 Sri Lankans are working in Bangladesh and 4-500 students studying in medical colleges and universities there.

Uzzaman said Bangladeshis are keen to visit Sri Lanka as tourists and to explore business opportunities in the island.

Best Air now has services from Dhaka to Chittagong and Bangkok.