FE Report

Afriqiyah Airways - the national airlines of Libya on Tuesday introduced Dhaka-Tripoli-Dhaka direct flights acting as the gateway to Africa and East Europe.

A 300 seater Airbus 330 aircraft of the Afriqiyah Airways landed at Zia International Airport as the first ever African based airlines. It was scheduled to take-off for Tripoli at mid-night on the same day.

With Airbus 320-200, 319-11 and 330-200 category aircraft, the national flag carrier of the North African oil-rich state would initially operate one direct flight per week, catching-up Bangladeshi travellers on their way to Africa and East Europe, official said.

Banani Travels and Tours, a local travel agency, has been assigned as the General Sales Agents (GSA) for the airlines in Bangladesh.

A modest inauguration ceremony was organized at the Zia International Airport in presence of high officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and Afriqiyah Airways' delegation from Libya.

Dr. H. B.M. lqbal, chairman of Banani Travels & Tours was present on the occasion.

Speakers at the inauguration ceremony said the introduction of non-stop Dhaka-Tripoli-Dhaka flight would open a new horizon in the development of relations among African countries and Bangladesh.

"Bangladesh can take advantage of Libya's strategic position to move into the African and East European countries," they said.

Vice versa Libyan entrepreneurs to take the advantage of expertise of Bangladeshi experience in garments, textile, IT & Pharmaceuticals and light machinery, he added.

Moreover, Libya has already emerged as potential employment destinations for Bangladeshi semi-skilled and skilled workers. The direct flight is likely to appear as their most proffered choice, speakers added.