& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Indian Airlines to expand Bangladesh operation

STAR BUSINESS REPORT
Amid growing competition in air travel market, the Indian Airlines has come up with an expansion plan in Bangladesh offering special incentives for passengers.
The Indian state-run carrier has planned to increase flight frequency to five flights a week from existing three on Kolkata-Dhaka route.
Indian Airlines yesterday launched Frequent Flyer Programme, which
offers a set of incentives to passengers including free ticket on mileage points, excess baggage carrying, queue-free check-in and priority confirmation from the waiting list.
The package has come close on the heels of local private carrier GMG Airlines' plan to start operation on Chittagong-Kolkata route and the possibility of two Indian private airlines -- JetAir and Sahara -- operation in Bangladesh. The two private airlines are now vetting the requirement list of the
Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (Caab).
"The Frequent Flyer Programme will provide more convenience to passengers. We have convenient connectivity flights from Kolkata to other Indian destinations," said Indian Airlines Manager-Bangladesh KL Chandolia at a press conference in Dhaka.
Indian Airlines connects 64 Indian cities and 16 international destinations.
RR Das, minister (Commerce and Economy) of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, said increased air travel would strengthen trade relations between India and Bangladesh.
Trade between the two neighbouring countries has already witnessed an increasing trend. "Export from Bangladesh to India is likely to cross $100 million mark this fiscal year from $84 million in the previous year," Das said.
He mentioned that the Indian High Commission in Dhaka issues about four lakh visas every year to Bangladeshi people who go to India for medical treatment, travelling, business and other purposes.
Under the Frequent Flyer Programme, passengers will have to fill in a form to become member of the programme. The passenger will earn mileage points for travelling by any flight of Indian Airlines, Air India and Air France.
For getting a free Dhaka-New Delhi return ticket under the programme, a passenger needs to travel through the airline three times on the route. The passengers can check their mileage status through online.
However, the business of the Indian Airlines in Bangladesh witnessed a downtrend last year. The airline's passenger volume plunged to 18,402 in 2003 from 25,500 in 2002 and 30,695 in 2001, according to Caab statistics.