US-Bangla Airlines plans to invest approximately $22 million in modernising its ground operations to improve flight punctuality and ensure international-standard passenger services.
According to a press release, the airline has already opened letters of credit (LCs) worth $12 million for the investment.
Having completed more than a decade of operations, the airline is now pursuing renewed ambitions to strengthen its position in the international aviation market.
US-Bangla currently operates a fleet of 25 aircraft and plans to add another 21 Boeing 737-series aircraft by December 2027. It also plans to introduce around 16 new international destinations, expanding its existing network of 14 international destinations across 10 countries.
To support its growing fleet and expanding flight operations, the airline is prioritising the development of its ground support infrastructure. It currently operates approximately 590 units of ground service equipment (GSE) and plans to add another 146 units within the next three to four months.
The additional equipment will include aircraft pushback tractors and tow bars, baggage belt loaders, baggage tractors, passenger boarding stairs, ground power units, air start units, catering trucks, water and lavatory service trucks, and other ramp support equipment.
Flight punctuality and operational efficiency depend not only on aircraft but also on modern ground handling equipment, skilled manpower and integrated operational management. Recognising this, US-Bangla considers adequate ground support facilities essential to its long-term growth strategy.
The airline is also expanding its ground support capabilities as part of its plan to establish regional hubs in Chattogram and Sylhet.
As part of its commitment to environmentally sustainable aviation and in line with the government’s Electric Vehicle Industry Development Policy, US-Bangla plans to introduce 80 electric vehicles at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Work is underway to establish the necessary charging infrastructure.
Electric vehicle charging facilities are increasingly becoming an integral part of modern airport operations worldwide. Several leading airports across North America, Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Oceania, Latin America and Africa have already established charging infrastructure to support electric ground service vehicles.
These include John F Kennedy International Airport in New York, Los Angeles International Airport, Miami International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport in North America.
Other examples include Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt, Manchester, London Heathrow and Istanbul airports in Europe and neighbouring regions; Dubai International, Hamad International in Doha, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah and Riyadh airports in the Middle East; and Beijing Capital, Tokyo Narita, Hong Kong, Macau and Seoul airports in East Asia.
In Southeast Asia, Singapore Changi, Kuala Lumpur International and Suvarnabhumi airports in Bangkok have introduced such facilities. Delhi and Bengaluru airports in South Asia, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney airports in Oceania, Santiago and Bogotá airports in Latin America, and Nairobi and Johannesburg airports in Africa are also among the examples.
Once the necessary infrastructure is in place, electric vehicles used in various airport ground operations will help reduce dependence on conventional fuel, minimise local carbon emissions and establish a more modern and environmentally sustainable ground operation system.
The government’s ongoing initiatives to modernise the country’s aviation sector, including the construction of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, improvements to airport infrastructure, connectivity development and the promotion of environmentally sustainable transportation, are creating new opportunities for Bangladesh’s aviation industry.
Working in coordination with these national development initiatives, US-Bangla Airlines aims to strengthen private-sector investment, expand its operational capabilities and contribute to transforming Bangladesh’s aviation industry to meet international standards.
