RAK Airways has started operating three flights a week from Ras Al Khaimah to Chittagong.

Chittagong is the airline’s second destination in Bangladesh, the company said in a statement.

RAK Airways already has a strong network to Bangladesh with thrice-a-week frequency to Dhaka.

“We are extremely proud to announce our second destination to Bangladesh and believe in providing world class services at affordable prices and hence assuring a luxurious flying experience,” said RAK Airways Chief Operating Officer K Ravindran.

RAK Airways, which started flying in November 2007, currently offers non-stop flights from Ras Al Khaimah to Dhaka, Colombo and now to Chittagong.

Ravindran said RAK Airways is all set to start operating flights to Kozhikode in Kerala, India, hopefully by April 2008.

“We have received the traffic rights to operate daily flights to Kozhikode and is awaiting final clearance from the Indian Civil Aviation authorities. We hope to start flying to Kozhikode by April 15, 2008, subject to the completion of all necessary formalities,” he added.

The airline would be operating Boeing 757 aircraft, having a capacity of 190 seats, in the sector.

He said the response to the new airline was remarkable with the Dhaka route flying at around 95 per cent capacity and added that new flight to Chittagong will contribute to enhancing the trade and business relations between UAE and Banladesh.

He said that the airline hopes to commence flights to Katmandu in Nepal and add some destinations in the Gulf sector soon.

The airline has adopted a hub and spoke network strategy by attracting passengers from other countries to Ras Al Khaimah and then flying them to other destinations. Ravindran said that the airline is offering transportation facilities for passengers from other emirates in UAE to reach the airport.

“The enhanced air connectivity from Ras Al Khaimah to Bangladesh would be of great benefit to the large number of Bangladeshi expatriates in the UAE, 55 per cent of whom are residing in the Northern Emirates and mainly hailing from Chittagong,” said Bangladeshi ambassador to the UAE Nazimullah Chowdary.

RAK Airways had last month signed an Dh1.65-billion ($449.46m) deal with Boeing for the purchase of four new-generation 737-800NG aircraft. – TradeArabia News Service