Air Astra launches first-ever spotter contest ahead of new ATR 72-600 arrival

Dhaka: Air Astra has launched Bangladesh's first-ever aviation spotter-photographer competition, titled "Spot the Echo," marking the arrival of the airline's second brand-new ATR72-600 aircraft, registered S2-STE.

The aircraft is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at approximately 3:00 pm on August 19. Aviation enthusiasts are being invited to photograph its arrival and share their shots for a chance to win prizes.

Five winning spotters will receive round-trip air tickets between Dhaka and Cox's Bazar, courtesy of Air Astra. In addition, the first 10 registered participants will get exclusive rooftop access at Hyatt Place Uttara, Dhaka, along with a complimentary beverage, offering an elevated vantage point to photograph the new aircraft.

Interested spotters can register through a Google form the airline has shared on its social media handles.

The competition marks Air Astra's first attempt at directly engaging Bangladesh's aviation spotting community through a structured contest format, tying fleet expansion news to public participation rather than a standard press release.

Aircraft-spotting communities, long active informally around airports worldwide, have increasingly been courted by airlines seeking organic promotion through enthusiast-generated photography and social media content.

By combining the delivery of new aircraft with an incentivized public event, Air Astra appears to be positioning itself to build visibility among a niche but highly engaged audience while also generating imagery of its expanding ATR 72-600 fleet for wider promotional use.