US-Bangla Airlines hopes to connect different districts with Sylhet-Chattogram, Sylhet-Cox's Bazar, Jashore-Chattogram flights so that passengers can avoid Dhaka-centric travel.

The major private airline also wants to operate with the latest ATR 72-600 aircraft in the short-haul destinations.

The authorities, however, said that they will not suspend Dhaka-China operation as people eagerly wait to travel by the local airline despite the outbreak of coronavirus in China.

US-Bangla now has six brand new ATR 72-600 aircraft in its fleet of 13. There are four Boeing 737-800s, three Dash-8 Q 400 and six ATR 72-600.

The induction of brand new ATR 72-600 will reduce the average age of the fleet.

These were revealed during a press conference in Sylhet on 'Inauguration of Brand New ATR 72-600' on board the aircraft that travelled to the city from Dhaka carrying about 65 journalists Sunday.

The maiden flight which was accompanied by the US-Bangla Airlines adviser and chief executive officer (CEO) Captain Sikder Mesbahuddin Ahmed, director (flight operation) Captain Monirul Haque Joarder, general manager (public relations) Kamrul Islam.

US-Bangla now operates to Sylhet, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Jashore, Saidpur, Rajshahi and Barisal from Dhaka in domestic routes. In international routes, it operates on Dhaka-Kolkata, Dhaka-Chennai, Dhaka-Muscat, Dhaka-Doha, Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur, Dhaka-Singapore, Dhaka-Bangkok and Dhaka-Guangzhou.

The airline was awarded for best on-time performance in 2019.