30 October 2008

New airline to launch from Stansted and Manchester

A group of businessmen have unveiled plans to launch a new airline - Air Sylhet - flying to Vienna and then on to Dubai from Stansted and Manchester.

The entrepreneurs admit next month's launch comes at a tough time for the airline industry, but claim their start-up will "buck the troubled aviation industry trend".

The private investors behind Air Sylhet believe they can exploit a gap in the market by targeting destinations currently poorly served by other airlines.

The airline will fly twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays) from Stansted to Vienna/Dubai, and once a week on Fridays from Manchester to the same destinations.

Flights will stop at Vienna for one hour, where passengers flying on to Dubai can stay on the aircraft.

The inaugural flight is on November 9 and will be operated by a leased Airbus A320-200, capable of carrying 180 passengers.

The first few flights will be for shareholders only, so that the first commercial flight won't depart until December 4.

As well as Vienna and Dubai, Air Sylhet aims to provide a service to Bangladesh, starting up next year.

The carrierââ¬â¢s chairman Kabir Khan said: ââ¬ÅâœWe recognise that we are bucking the trend by launching a new airline at a time when others have struggled, but the difference between our offering compared to others is that we provide a complete service to high and exacting standards, but we offer it at a rate which is value for money.

ââ¬ÅâœWe are not looking to compete with ââ¬Ëœlow frillsââ¬â¢ airlines. We are concentrating on a more distinct approach of safe, value-driven, point-to-point services which provide consistent, reliable products and fares appealing to both leisure travellers and the business community.

ââ¬ÅâœWe offer services which have almost disappeared in the cost-driven low frills end of the market."

Air Sylhet offers reserved seats, a generous 35 b baggage allowance, complimentary in-flight food and drinks, and no hidden extra charges, he added.

Air Sylhet was formed by ex-patriot British-Bangladeshi businessmen from the Sylhet region of Bangladesh.

Khan said: ââ¬ÅâœWe have chosen to fly initially to Vienna and then to Dubai, though, given Viennaââ¬â¢s location, it makes it an ideal base to expand our services to include long haul flights to Bangladesh a little further down the line.ââ¬~


By Bev Fearis

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• What a year to start
  
  

  Brave venture (to me anyway), potentially appalling timing (or brilliant), strange routes (or spotted opportunities) and a name that is difficult to spell (is that a disadvantage). I could not see them getting money from the dragons den for this one but good luck. In difficult times there are opportunities, and time will tell if Air Sylhet's move will be fruitful.

  By Nick Cooper, Wednesday, October 29, 2008