Direct Dhaka-New York flights targeted for 2027

The government is working to launch direct flights between Dhaka and New York next year, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said yesterday.

He made the remark during a meeting with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen at the Secretariat, where they discussed aviation cooperation, aircraft procurement, investment and tourism.

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The minister said the government was pursuing the Dhaka-New York (JFK) route considering growing trade and diplomatic ties between the two countries and the needs of Bangladeshis living in the US.

He said securing Category 1 status under the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) would be important for operating direct commercial flights to the United States.

The US ambassador assured Bangladesh of all possible cooperation in launching the route, according to a press release issued by the ministry.

The meeting also discussed Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ fleet expansion. Millat said an agreement to purchase 14 Boeing aircraft had already been signed and stressed the need for faster delivery.

The $3.7 billion agreement, signed in April, covers eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, two 787-9 Dreamliners and four 737-8 MAX jets. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in November 2031 and continue until October 2035.

According to sources, Biman is also preparing agreements for another 21 Boeing and Airbus aircraft as part of its fleet expansion plan.

Millat said the government was giving special attention to the civil aviation sector and working on an aviation master plan to improve air connectivity.

He said a modern air traffic management system had recently been inaugurated at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, while an initiative had also been taken to establish an international airport in Bogura as part of efforts to develop Bangladesh as a regional aviation hub.

Christensen said the US would support Bangladesh’s efforts to develop as an aviation hub and that American investors were interested in the country’s civil aviation and tourism sectors.

On tourism, Millat said the government was encouraging private investment to develop the country’s 1,498 tourist spots into international-standard destinations.