DHAKA, Nov 3, 2022 (BSS) - Air Astra, that is going to enter the country's 
aviation industry as the third private operational airlines, today got nod to 
operate commercial domestic flights from the regulatory body Civil Aviation 
Authority of Bangladesh(CAAB). 

The CAAB formally issued the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) No 27 to Air 
Astra that will allow the new airlines to start its commercial flight 
operations.
 
CAAB Member (Flight Standards & Regulations) Air Commodore Shah Kawsar Ahmed 
Choudhury handed over the certificate to the Air Astra CEO and Accountable 
Manager Imran Asif at a ceremony at CAAB headquarters in the capital.
 
Kawsar welcomed Air Astra to the industry to contribute to the GDP of the 
country through safe and efficient flight operations across the country.
 
Asif reassured the authority that the airline would always endeavor to act 
absolutely professionally through its highly professional team and it always 
adheres to all regulations especially flight safety. 

The airliner has already procured two 70-seat turboprop ATR 72-600 aircraft 
while two more same modeled narrow body planes are scheduled to be added to 
its fleet by this year. 

The airlines have the plan to start its first operations on Dhaka-Cox's 
Bazar-Dhaka and Dhaka-Syedpur-Dhaka routes by this month, Air Astra CEO told 
BSS.