United Arab Emirates (UAE) based Etihad Airways has decided to suspend their operations in Dhaka from October 1.
Etihad Airways has been operating their flights with Bangladesh for twelve years, but the recent decision to close operations will see many Bangladeshi officials become jobless.
Another UAE based airways, Fly Dubai, will also close their operations from Bangladesh this year.
Etihad Airways officials say that they have informed their business partners and travel agents in Bangladesh about their last flight on June 6, through an official letter.
The letter states that Etihad will not operate flights from Abu Dhabi to Dhaka from October 1, but those who have already booked their tickets for travel on post-October 1 dates, will be able to travel via its partner airline, Jet Airways.
Etihad Airways will provide this facility through code-sharing agreement with Jet Airways.
Consequently, passengers from Dhaka will go via Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.
However, passengers who have booked their ticket for Dhaka to Abu Dhabi can fly through Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Bangladesh is taking measures to introduce a provision for recruiting General Sales Agent (GSA) in Bangladesh.
The ownership of the agent should be a Bangladeshi national though some airlines, including Etihad, are operating its flights without GSA.
These airlines already showed their objection over the decision of CAA.
Requesting anonymity, a CAA official said, “Bangladeshi airlines have to recruit sales agents as it is a common practice in other countries as well.”
In some countries, the rule is to recruit local sales agents first and then apply for the approval to operate flights in that country, he added.
“So, there is no reason to object to this rule.”
When asked about winding business, Bangladesh Sales Manager of Etihad Airwaysm Shamimul Islam said, “Etihad authorities in UAE did not specify the reasons for closing their operations in Bangladesh; though GSA issue may be the cause.”
The passengers of Etihad Airways will not have to face troubles as it has a partnership operation under a codeshare agreement with Jet Airways, he assured.
“Besides, if passengers want then they can refund their tickets without paying any charge.”
UAE based airways, Fly Dubai, will also close their operations from Bangladesh this year.
Fly Dubai will run their last flight from Chattogram to Dubai on June 14.
They withdrew their last flight from Dhaka on March 25.
Fly Dubai have been in Bangladesh operations for the last 7 years.