Ethiopian Airlines and Air China are commencing operations in Bangladesh starting from May 2024.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) is preparing to facilitate flights for these two foreign carriers. CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mafidur Rahman told UNB that preparations are underway to support Ethiopia Airlines and Air China as part of Bangladesh's aspiration to become an aviation hub.

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CAAB has notified the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry and instructed Biman Bangladesh Airlines to assist with ground handling services for these airlines.

"We are hopeful to start our Addis Ababa-Dhaka-Addis Ababa direct flight third week of May. Initially it will operate five weekly flights," Managing Director of Rhythm Group, the airline's General Sales Agent (GSA) in Bangladesh, Shohag Hossain told UNB.

Ethiopian Airlines plans to launch flights between Addis Ababa and Dhaka in May, initially operating five weekly flights. The airline, known for its extensive African network, intends to eventually offer daily flights with its Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft to Dhaka, connecting Bangladeshi expatriates to major European and North American cities from Addis Ababa.

The air service agreement between Ethiopia and Bangladesh was signed in December 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following diplomatic consultations. Ethiopian Airlines, with 147 aircraft, is Africa's largest airline and ranks as the world’s fourth-largest in terms of countries served.

Air China will also start operating two weekly flights on the Dhaka-Beijing-Dhaka route, responding to the growing connections between China and Bangladesh.

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This move aims to streamline travel, as currently, flights from Dhaka to Chinese cities like Kunming and Guangzhou require additional transfers to reach the capitals. Air China, with a fleet of 497 aircraft, plans to expand its international and regional routes, adding to its existing 452 routes.