Best Air begins direct flights between Colombo and Dhaka

Best Air, a private Bangladeshi carrier, commenced flight operations to Sri Lanka with their first flight arriving at the Bandaranaike International Airport to coincide with the start of the SAARC Summit, and marking the start of direct flights between Dhaka and Colombo.

The new service is aimed at improving co-operation with better connectivity by air between regional capitals. Best Air chairman Haider Uzzaman said they plan to start with two flights a week to Colombo and Male on Fridays and Mondays.

It is reported that a Colombo-Dhaka return air ticket will cost 799 dollars including taxes and service charges.

There is already a great demand due to increased commerce between the two countries owing to investments by Sri Lankan firms in Bangladesh in garments, hospitals, banking and schools. Over 5,000 Sri Lankans are working in Bangladesh and 4-500 students studying in medical colleges and universities there.

Uzzaman said Bangladeshis are keen to visit Sri Lanka as tourists and to explore business opportunities in the island.

Best Air has services from Dhaka to Chittagong and Bangkok.