SalamAir records over 95pc load factor in BD as airline marks ninth anniversary

Dhaka : SalamAir's Bangladesh operations are currently running at a load factor of over 95 percent, underscoring strong market demand and positioning the country as one of the airline's most vital revenue contributors in the region, according to the airline's Country Manager.

Speaking to The Bangladesh Monitor on the sidelines of SalamAir's ninth anniversary celebration in Dhaka, Country Manager Muhammad Ariful Islam Rajan said, Bangladesh has emerged as one of SalamAir's top three revenue-generating markets and is now the airline's second-largest destination after Oman in terms of operational capacity.

"We currently operate nine weekly flights from Dhaka and 11 from Chattogram to Oman using Airbus A321neo aircraft, each with a seating capacity of 230. Load factor is consistently above 95 percent, reflecting very strong demand," Rajan said.

Expansion of operations

The Country Manager said, SalamAir has already applied for additional slots at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to increase frequencies, but approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) is still pending.

Ariful Islam Rajan, Country Manager - Bangladesh, SalamAir

"The demand is there, especially during the Umrah season leading up to Ramadan. SalamAir is a budget-friendly airline, which is why we carry a significant volume of Umrah passengers," he added.

Rajan said the airline plans to launch double daily flights from Dhaka, subject to the opening of the airport's third terminal and regulatory approvals.

He also revealed plans to introduce flights from Sylhet in the future to tap into growing demand from the region.

"SalamAir will be receiving three new aircraft this year, increasing our fleet from 15 to 18 aircraft. This expansion will support our growth plans in Bangladesh and other key markets," he said.

Ninth anniversary celebration

The remarks came as the Oman-based low-cost carrier marked its ninth anniversary with a formal celebration in the capital on February 5.

The event was hosted by SalamAir's General Sales Agent in Bangladesh, AeroWing Aviation Limited, at Renaissance Dhaka, bringing together travel trade partners, airline stakeholders, and diplomatic representatives.

Jamil Haji Ismail Al Balushi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Bangladesh, attended the program as chief guest.

Speaking at the event, the ambassador said, SalamAir is one of only two Omani airlines operating flights across global destinations and has been performing strongly in the Bangladesh market.

He also expressed optimism about enhanced bilateral connectivity, noting that Oman is expected to facilitate visa processes for Bangladeshi nationals in the near future.

Senior representatives from SalamAir and AeroWing Aviation were present, including AeroWing Chairman Md Nasser Shahrear Zahedee and Managing Director M A Latif Shahrear Zahedee, alongside representatives from leading travel agencies across the country.

Addressing the audience, AeroWing Chairman Md Nasser Shahrear Zahedee said, SalamAir began its Bangladesh operations seven years ago with just three weekly flights, which has since grown to 20 weekly services.

He added that the airline plans to increase frequencies to 40 weekly flights in the future.

"We started with limited capacity, but demand has grown steadily. While we currently operate Airbus A321neo aircraft on Bangladesh routes, we are also exploring the possibility of introducing Boeing 777 aircraft in the future," Zahedee said.

He added that discussions with the Omani ambassador also focused on promoting tourism, cultural exchange, and people-to-people connectivity between Bangladesh and Oman.

During the event, SalamAir highlighted key milestones from its nine-year journey, noting steady growth in fleet size, route network, and passenger volumes.

In 2025, the airline operated more than 22,000 flights, carrying over 3.4 million passengers across more than 44 destinations.

As part of its ongoing network expansion strategy, SalamAir has recently launched services to Port Sudan and plans to introduce new routes to Damascus, Vienna, and Medan.

The anniversary celebration highlighted SalamAir's close collaboration with the Bangladesh travel trade and reaffirmed the airline's long-term commitment to strengthening connectivity between Bangladesh, Oman, and its wider international network.

It may be mentioned here, SalamAir is a low-cost airline from Oman headquartered and based at Muscat International Airport.

It was founded 10 years ago in 2016. However, it commenced operations on January 30, 2017 - nine years ago.

SalamAir is one of the key airlines operating flights between the Middle East and Bangladesh.

Its affordable and well-connected service makes the airline a popular choice among Bangladeshi pilgrims and labor passengers.

Its fleet and destination network makes it ideal for all sorts of travel in the region and beyond.

With this hope, the airline aims to further facilitate Bangladeshi passengers.