United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Etihad Airways will stop all flights between Abu Dhabi and Dhaka effective October 1.
The Abu Dhabi-based carrier on Thursday served a notice to its Bangladeshi business partners in this regard, confirmed sources at the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB).
The Dhaka Tribune has obtained a copy of the letter.
In the letter, the airline pointed out that it has been committed to serving Dhaka through its codeshare partner Jet Airways via Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata.
“We will continue to serve Dhaka through our codeshare partner Jet Airways, and alongside our travel agency partners, work closely with impacted guests to notify them of the changes to their itineraries and re-accommodate them on alternative flights,” read the Etihad letter.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, the airline’s business partner in Dhaka said the decision will adversely affect Bangladesh’s aviation industry. However, they could not confirm the reason behind the decision, while officials of the airline also refused to comment on the issue.
Etihad’s first service to Dhaka kicked off on May 4, 2006, and till date the carrier has flown more than 1.5 million passengers to and from Bangladesh.
The airline is also scheduled to suspend its flights between Abu Dhabi and Perth, Australia and Edinburgh, Scotland from October 1, 2018.
Although the reason behind cancelling the two destinations is a part of an ongoing review of the airline’s operations, the reason behind stopping flights to and from Dhaka may not be the same, claimed Dhaka-based aviation experts.
Contacted, aviation expert Kazi Wahidul Alam told the Dhaka Tribune: “The suspension of Etihad flights is obviously a harmful decision for Bangladesh’s aviation industry. The airline should reconsider its decision.”
“I don’t think the airline will stop their service in Dhaka due to any commercial reason. Their business here has been going very well,” he said, adding: “The airline agencies servicing Bangladesh have been in an uncomfortable situation over various policy issues.”
“Moreover, the newly formulated general sales agent (GSA) appointment policy by the Bangladesh government has worsened the situation, which might be a reason behind Etihad’s decision.”
According to sources at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), the government formulated a new policy regarding appointing a GSA in Bangladesh by foreign airlines last month.
The policy states that the GSA must be locally owned and based, and it will be implemented soon, said CAAB sources.