Air Astra (2A, Dhaka) has issued a request for proposal (RfP) to dry-lease or buy three or four A320-200/A321-200 narrowbodies to launch international routes. The Bangladeshi carrier aims to transition to A320/1neo aircraft later.
The airline requires deliveries by the end of 2025. The aircraft must not be older than 15 years at the time of delivery. A single-class all-economy configuration is preferable, although the airline is willing to consider dual-class aircraft. Proposals comprising sistership aircraft are encouraged.
The RfP is not open to brokers and other intermediaries. Air Astra also explicitly said it was not interested in wet-leasing the aircraft.
The airline did not respond to ch-aviation's request for more details and did not share the planned international network. However, last year it applied for permits to fly to Kolkata, Kathmandu, and Pokhara Airport, at that time planning to serve the three destinations with its ATR72-600s.
The airline said that after it secures the A320/1ceo, it will consider new-generation narrowbodies. It revealed in the RFP that it would like to "further expand the fleet with the induction of A320/321neo aircraft in the near future." It did not provide any additional details.
Air Astra currently operates exclusively on domestic routes, connecting Dhaka, Chittagong, and Cox's Bazar. Its fleet comprises three ATR72-600s with a further unit of the type secured on a long-term lease from US-Bangla Airlines.
