United Airways

United Airways was a privately established Bangladeshi airline that operated under the United Airways (BD) Ltd. name. Founded in 2005 by Captain Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury and other Bangladeshi businesspeople, the company obtained its Air Transport Operating License from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh in June 2005. It began scheduled passenger operations on 10 July 2007 using a Bombardier Dash 8-100 acquired from Island Air. The carrier was based in Dhaka and used Shahjalal International Airport as its principal hub. It also developed a secondary operating base at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong. Its initial network linked Dhaka with domestic destinations including Sylhet and Chittagong, and it subsequently expanded to Cox's Bazar, Jessore, Barisal, Rajshahi, Saidpur and Ishwardi. International operations began with Kolkata and later extended to destinations such as London, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Kathmandu, Jeddah, Bangkok, Muscat, Singapore and Doha. The airline also operated the Sylhet–London route, a particularly important service for the Bangladeshi diaspora in the United Kingdom. United Airways expanded its fleet beyond the original Dash 8 turboprops, adding ATR 72 aircraft, McDonnell Douglas MD-83s and Airbus A310-300s. Its all-economy cabin product offered meals on international flights and simpler refreshments on domestic services. The airline did not provide seatback or aircraft-based in-flight entertainment, although it published an in-flight magazine titled Welcome Bangladesh. The company became Bangladesh's first listed aviation-sector company when its shares were admitted to trading in July 2010. Listing gave the airline access to public capital but also exposed its finances and governance to scrutiny. Regulators and market investigators later raised concerns about the preparation of its financial statements, including the treatment of deferred tax and alleged inflation of quarterly earnings. The airline also faced substantial unpaid charges to the civil aviation regulator. Operational reliability and service quality were recurring weaknesses. United Airways was frequently criticized for delays, suspended services and limited onboard amenities. In September 2014, a dispute among directors followed the announced resignation of chairman and managing director Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury. The disagreement caused a three-day suspension of domestic and international flights and stranded more than two thousand passengers. Services resumed after the board reached an agreement, but the disruption underscored the company's financial and governance problems. The carrier experienced another service interruption from mid-January to 24 February 2016 and finally stopped all operations on 6 March 2016. At that point, its aircraft were reportedly grounded for technical reasons. The airline is therefore regarded as defunct as an operating carrier. In 2021, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission suspended the previous board and appointed a new board composed of independent directors, reflecting continuing corporate-governance proceedings after the airline's operational collapse.

United Airways (BD) Ltd. was established in Bangladesh in 2005 by Captain Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury, a British-Bangladeshi businessman from the Sylhet region, together with other businesspeople and entrepreneurs. The airline received its Air Transport Operating License from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh on 28 June 2005. Although the company was founded earlier, it did not begin scheduled flights until 10 July 2007. The first services connected Dhaka with Sylhet and Chittagong and were operated with a Bombardier Dash 8-100 acquired from Island Air. During its first period of expansion, United Airways added domestic flights to Cox's Bazar, Jessore and Barisal. It also began international service to Kolkata from Dhaka and Chittagong. A second Dash 8-100 joined the fleet in 2008. The airline expanded substantially in 2009 and 2010. It acquired McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft and introduced flights to London, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Kathmandu. In 2010 it added Jeddah and inaugurated a Sylhet–London route with an Airbus A310-300. ATR 72-200 and additional MD-83 aircraft broadened the fleet. United Airways became publicly listed in July 2010, making it the first listed company in Bangladesh's aviation sector. Further growth followed in 2011–2013. The carrier added more MD-83s, Airbus A310-300 aircraft and ATR 72-200s. Bangkok service was introduced, and the airline opened the domestic Dhaka–Rajshahi–Saidpur routing. In 2012 it launched Muscat flights from Dhaka and Chittagong, restored Chittagong–Kolkata service and resumed flights to Bangkok. In 2013 it introduced Singapore service and began flying domestically to Ishwardi. Doha was added in May 2014, while a Karachi launch was planned. Despite this expansion, United Airways developed a poor service reputation. Passengers and observers criticized recurring delays, flight cancellations or suspensions and modest onboard facilities. All aircraft were configured with economy seating. International passengers received meals, while domestic passengers generally received juice and confectionery. The airline had no in-flight entertainment system but published Welcome Bangladesh, an onboard magazine. The carrier's corporate and financial problems became increasingly visible. In November 2012, allegations concerning inflated first-quarter earnings led the Securities and Exchange Commission to establish an investigative panel. The Dhaka Stock Exchange had also identified anomalies in the preparation of financial statements and a suspected trading pattern intended to create artificial demand for the company's shares. United Airways subsequently acknowledged that deferred tax had not been included in the relevant financial statement. In April 2014, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh threatened to suspend the airline because of unpaid aeronautical and non-aeronautical charges reportedly totaling about BDT 770 million. The regulator restricted the sale or purchase of aircraft until the outstanding obligations were addressed. A High Court order temporarily enabled renewal of the airline's air operator certificate. A major operational crisis occurred in September 2014. The announced resignation of chairman and managing director Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury was followed by a board reshuffle and the appointment of temporary leadership. A dispute among board members caused the suspension of all domestic and international flights on 24 September. More than two thousand passengers were stranded in Bangladesh and overseas, and scheduled international services to Doha, Muscat and Kuala Lumpur did not depart. The company's share price also fell on the Dhaka Stock Exchange. Following an agreement among directors, a domestic flight operated again on 27 September, three days after the shutdown began. United Airways experienced another interruption from mid-January to 24 February 2016 and ultimately ceased all operations on 6 March 2016. Its aircraft were reportedly grounded for technical reasons, bringing the airline's scheduled service to an end. Corporate proceedings continued after the operational shutdown. In February 2021, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission suspended the previous board and appointed eight independent directors; the new board assumed responsibility on 4 March 2021. The airline remains a defunct Bangladeshi carrier rather than an active passenger brand.

• 2021

  New board appointed

  [1]United Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission replaced the former board with eight independent directors.

• 2016

  Operations end

  [1]United Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  United Airways ceased all domestic and international operations on 6 March.

• 2014

  Board dispute causes temporary shutdown

  [1]United Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  A leadership dispute suspended all flights for three days before limited service resumed.

• 2013

  Singapore and Ishwardi services added

  [1]United Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  The carrier expanded its international network to Singapore and added Ishwardi to its domestic network.

• 2010

  Public listing and Airbus A310 operations

  [1]United Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  United Airways became the first listed aviation company in Bangladesh and launched Jeddah and Sylhet–London services.

• 2009

  Long-haul expansion begins

  [1]United Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  The airline received an MD-83 and expanded its international network to destinations including London, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Kathmandu.

• 2007

  Scheduled operations begin

  [1]United Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  The airline launched domestic services from Dhaka to Sylhet and Chittagong with a Bombardier Dash 8-100.

• 2005

  Company founded and licensed

  [1]United Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  United Airways was founded in Bangladesh and received its Air Transport Operating License from the Civil Aviation Authority on 28 June.

A Bangladeshi private airline positioned as a lower-cost scheduled carrier serving domestic routes and selected regional and diaspora markets. Its expansion emphasized network breadth and the use of turboprop and narrow-body aircraft, but its market reputation was weakened by delays, service suspensions, fleet-grounding problems and corporate-governance disputes.

• Airline transportation · 2007

  Domestic scheduled passenger service

  United Airways connected Dhaka and Chittagong with Bangladeshi destinations including Sylhet, Cox's Bazar, Jessore, Barisal, Rajshahi, Saidpur and Ishwardi. These routes were primarily operated with Dash 8 and ATR turboprop aircraft, supporting regional travel within Bangladesh.

• Airline transportation · 2007

  International scheduled passenger service

  The airline served selected international destinations in South Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the United Kingdom. Its network included Kolkata, London, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Kathmandu, Jeddah, Bangkok, Muscat, Singapore and Doha at different points in its operating history.

• Passenger experience

  Economy-class cabin

  United Airways operated an all-economy cabin configuration. International flights included meals, while domestic flights generally offered juices and confectionery. The aircraft did not have in-flight entertainment systems; the airline's onboard magazine was titled Welcome Bangladesh.

• 2014

  Outstanding regulatory charges

  The civil aviation regulator cited approximately BDT 770 million in unpaid aeronautical and non-aeronautical charges and threatened operational action. Aircraft transactions were restricted while the obligations remained unresolved.

  Source

• 2014

  Board conflict and flight suspension

  A dispute among directors following a leadership change forced the temporary suspension of all flights and stranded passengers in Bangladesh and overseas.

  Source

• 2012

  Financial-reporting and trading irregularities

  The airline was accused of overstating first-quarter earnings. Investigations identified anomalies in its financial statements and a suspected attempt to create artificial demand for its shares. The company acknowledged that deferred tax had been omitted from the statement.

  Source

• 2011

  United Airlines trademark dispute in the United Kingdom

  United Airlines brought legal action alleging that United Airways infringed its trademark and could confuse passengers, particularly after the Bangladeshi carrier began serving London Gatwick. A London court ordered the airline to repaint its fleet and change its name in the UK.

  Source

Read more

• 2016

  End scheduled operationsOther

  Background

  After another service interruption and the grounding of its aircraft for technical reasons, the airline could no longer maintain its network.

  Action taken

  United Airways ceased all domestic and international flights on 6 March 2016.

  Aftermath

  The airline became defunct as an operating carrier, although corporate and board proceedings continued later.

  Source

• 2014

  Resume operations after board settlementStrategy

  Background

  A conflict among board members led to a complete flight suspension on 24 September.

  Action taken

  Following consensus among directors, the airline restarted service with a domestic flight on 27 September.

  Aftermath

  The short-term restart did not resolve the company's underlying financial, governance and operational weaknesses.

  Source

• 2010

  Expand into long-haul and diaspora marketsStrategy

  Background

  The airline sought to move beyond domestic and short regional routes.

  Action taken

  It added Airbus A310-300 equipment and launched Jeddah and Sylhet–London services.

  Aftermath

  The expansion increased the carrier's international profile but also exposed it to higher fleet, regulatory and operating costs.

  Source

• 2007

  Launch a domestic scheduled networkStrategy

  Background

  The newly licensed airline entered Bangladesh's domestic aviation market with a small turboprop fleet.

  Action taken

  United Airways began Dhaka–Sylhet and Dhaka–Chittagong services and then expanded to additional domestic cities.

  Aftermath

  The initial network provided the foundation for subsequent international expansion.

  Source

1. 1United Airwaysen.wikipedia.org