Air Astra
Air Astra is a privately owned Bangladeshi passenger airline headquartered in Dhaka and based at Shahjalal International Airport under the Astra Airways Limited.[5][4]
| |||||||
Founded | 2021 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Commenced operations | 24 November 2022[1] | ||||||
Hubs | Shahjalal International Airport | ||||||
Fleet size | 3[2] | ||||||
Destinations | 3 | ||||||
Parent company | Astra Airways Limited | ||||||
Headquarters | Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh[3] | ||||||
Key people | Imran Asif (CEO)[4] | ||||||
Website | www |
History
The airline was expected to commence its operation in January 2022.[6] However, the dates were pushed forward further into 2022 and after acquiring their Air operator's certificate the airline was cleared to commence its operations.[7] Air Astra, the first private airline to be introduced in Bangladesh since 2013, started its commercial operation on 24 November 2022, with Dhaka as its hub. The airline inaugurated its operation with three weekly flights on Dhaka–Cox's Bazar–Dhaka route and two weekly flight on Dhaka-Chittagong–Dhaka route.[8][9] On 23 February 2023, the new airline launched Dhaka - Sylhet flight for first time.[10][11] Air Astra expected to launch flights on all domestic routes in phases.[12]
Corporate Affairs
The airline has its corporate headquarter at Siam Tower in Uttara, Dhaka–1230 and it has its registered office at Banani, Dhaka–1213.
Destinations
Country | City | Airport | Notes | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bangladesh | Chittagong | Shah Amanat International Airport | – | [12] |
Cox's Bazar | Cox's Bazar Airport | – | [12] | |
Dhaka | Shahjalal International Airport | Hub | – | |
Jashore | Jashore Airport | Coming soon | – | |
Rajshahi | Shah Makhdum Airport | Coming soon | – | |
Saidpur | Saidpur Airport | – | ||
Sylhet | Osmani International Airport | – | [11] |
Fleet
The airline started its commercial operation with two ATR 72-600 and later on January 18, Air Astra received another ATR 72-600 aircraft. The airline is planning to increase its total number of fleet to 10 aircraft by 2023.[13]
As of December 2022, Air Astra fleet consists of the following aircraft:
Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
B | E | Total | ||||
ATR 72-600 | 3 | 7 | – | 72 | 72 | |
Total | 3 | 7 |
References
- "Air Astra kicks off domestic flights today". The Business Standard. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- "Our Aircraft | Air Astra". airastra.com. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- "Contact Us | Air Astra". Air Astra. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- "New commercial airline Air Astra to launch Bangladesh flights on Nov 24". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- "About Us | Air Astra". airastra.com. Air Astra. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- "Air Astra, newest Bangladeshi airline, set to take the skies in Jan 2022". The Daily Star. 5 September 2021.
- "Air Astra receives approval for commercial operations". The Business Standard. 3 November 2022.
- "Air Astra to launch first flight Nov 24". The Daily Star. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- Doran, Michael (29 November 2022). "Bangladesh Startup Air Astra is Up And Running On Domestic Routes". Simple Flying. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- Pratidin, Bangladesh (7 December 2022). "সিলেট-ঢাকা ফ্লাইট চালু করলো এয়ার অ্যাস্ট্রা". বাংলাদেশ প্রতিদিন (in Bengali). Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- BonikBarta. "ঢাকা-সিলেট রুটে ফ্লাইট চালু করল এয়ার অ্যাস্ট্রা". ঢাকা-সিলেট রুটে ফ্লাইট চালু করল এয়ার অ্যাস্ট্রা. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- "Air Astra takes off with Dhaka-Cox's Bazar trip". The Daily Star. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- "New airline Air Astra to launch flights in November 2022 - AeroTime". aerotime.aero. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.