Online Desk :

To meet the increasing demand for visits between the two countries, China Southern Airlines will inaugurate a direct flight route from Beijing Daxing International Airport to Dhaka starting from July 15, 2024. The service will operate twice weekly, on Mondays and Saturdays, establishing the first aerial connection between the capitals of the two nations.The new route marks the commencement of a significant enhancement in connectivity between Bangladesh and China.

This Dhaka-Beijing route will enhance connectivity and offer more convenient travel options between the two countries, officials said. China Southern Airlines hosted the Dhaka-Beijing flight launching ceremony Monday night in a city hotel in Dhaka. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan and Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Bangladesh Yao Wen attended the programme as the chief guest and guest of honor respectively.

Addressing the event, Minister Faruk Khan said China has always been a great friend of Bangladesh for a very long time. China is Bangladesh’s development partner and in the future, more Chinese investments will come in Bangladesh, he hoped. “The China Southern Airlines direct flight will strengthen trade and economic ties between Dhaka and Beijing. As China has huge tourists, we think to stair lightweight between Cox’s Bazar and Kunming airport in future,” he also said.

Talking to reporters after the event, he said around 97% wonk of the third terminal had been completed. By the next several months, the construction work will be completed.
Ambassador Yao congratulated China Southern Airlines for inaugurating direct flight between the Dhaka-Beijing. This route will create more opportunities for greater collaboration, people-to-people connectivity and win-win cooperation. “We encourage people of China and Bangladesh to travel and explore the opportunities,” he added.

FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam said connectivity is everything and wWithout connectivity, nothing can be done. General Manager of China Southern Airlines Xie Kangjia said China Southern Airlines is a leading name in the aviation industry, known for its extensive network and commitment to excellence. “As the largest airline in Asia, we proudly operate over 3,000 daily flights, connecting passengers to more than 200 destinations across the globe. Last year we flew more than 120,000 passengers from and to Dhaka, and in the first half of this year, the number is already close to 80,000. Our mission, “he added.

In addition, the ceremony was attended by other esteemed guests, including the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, Executive Chairman of BIDA Lokman Hossain Miah, representatives from Bangladesh Bank, SCB, and leading travel agencies were present at the programme. The new route, operated by the advanced Airbus A321 Neo aircraft, will provide increased travel options and convenience for passengers traveling between Beijing and Dhaka.

The Airbus A321 Neo offers a total seating capacity of 199 seats, including 12 Business Class seats and 187 Economy Class seats. Initially, China Southern Airlines will operate two weekly flights on this route, available on Mondays and Saturdays, with plans to expand to daily operations shortly.

Flight Details:

• Outbound flight number CZ8009 will depart from Beijing Daxing International Airport at 17:20 (Beijing time) and arrive at Dhaka Shahjalal International Airport at 20:40 (local time), with a flight duration of 5 hours and 20 minutes.
• Inbound flight number CZ8010 will depart from Dhaka at 22:10 (local time) and arrive in Beijing at 05:15 the next day (Beijing time), with a flight duration of 5 hours and 5 minutes.