Bismillah Airlines (BML, Dhaka) will start operating an A321-200(PCF) over the IATA 2023/24 winter season, according to a Cargo Facts report. The Bangladeshi cargo operator told the outlet it expected the aircraft to arrive in time to start flying immediately after the 2024 Chinese New Year. It also anticipates inducting a second of the type in the third quarter of next year.
Post-2024, Bismillah had previously said it was looking at acquiring more A321Fs, all of which would arrive on dry leases. Its first A321s will come from 321 Precision Conversions STC, a joint venture between Aircraft Transport Services Group (ATSG) and Precision Aircraft Solutions. ch-aviation has previously reported on the carrier's plans to acquire A321 freighters.
Bismillah Airlines is one of six cargo carriers based in Bangladesh, the others being Hello Airlines (Bangladesh), NXT Air, SkyAir, South Asian Airlines, and True Aviation BD. It once operated its own aircraft, including three An-12Bs and a L-1011-1, but in recent years it has - like Hello Airlines, South Asian Airlines, and True Aviation - relied on interline agreements with other carriers to move its cargo.
With its own aircraft, Bismillah says it is looking at operating flights to mainland China, Viet Nam, Hong Kong International, South Korea, and Thailand. Its current virtual schedule features services to Hong Kong, Delhi International, and Changzhou from Dhaka. It has also flagged acquiring other aircraft types, including the Cessna 408 Sky Courier and unspecified types of ATR72s and A330s, although nothing concrete has come from these announcements.
