United Airways Explained
| Airline: | United Airways (BD) Ltd.
|
| Iata: | 4H[1] |
| Icao: | UBD |
| Callsign: | UNITED BANGLADESH |
| Founded: | 28 June 2005[2] |
| Commenced: | 2007 |
| Ceased: | 2016 |
| Secondary Hubs: | |
| Fleet Size: | 11 |
| Destinations: | 12 |
| Parent: | TAC Aviations |
| Headquarters: | 1, Jasimuddin Avenue, Uttara Tower, Uttara, Dhaka-1230, Bangladesh |
| Num Employees: | 1,000 (2014) |
United Airways (BD) Ltd., operated as United Airways (Bengali: ইউনাইটেড এয়ারওয়েজ), was[3] a Bangladeshi airline headquartered in Uttara, Dhaka.[4] It operated flights from its main hub at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and secondary hub at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong. It was founded in 2005 and began flights on 10 July 2007 with a Bombardier Dash 8–100, purchased from Island Air.[5] United Airways was the first listed company in the aviation sector of Bangladesh;[6] [7] it became listed in July 2010.
The airline was often criticised for their poor service due to frequent delays, flight suspensions and poor in-flight amenities.[8] [9] In September 2014, the airline temporarily suspended its operations for three days following a conflict among its board of directors and a financial crisis.[10] [11] [12] [13] The airline ceased all operations on 6 March 2016, after a previous gap in service from mid-January to 24 February of that year.[14]
History
United Airways (Bangladesh) Limited, was founded by Captain Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury, a British-Bangladeshi businessmen from the Sylhet region ofBangladesh, along with few businessman and entrepreneurs in 2005. It obtained the Air Transport Operating License (ATOL) from Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh on 28 June 2005.[15] The airline started operating scheduled domestic flights on 10 July 2007, its maiden flights being Dhaka—Sylhet and Dhaka—Chittagong, with a Bombardier Dash 8–100, purchased from Island Air.[16] After few months, domestic flights to Cox's Bazar,[17] Jessore, and Barisal[18] started, along with international service to Kolkata from Dhaka and Chittagong.[19] Another Dash 8-100 was delivered in 2008.
In 2009, the airline received a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft, and launched flights to London,[20] Dubai,[21] Kuala Lumpur[22] and Kathmandu.[23]
In 2010, it commenced flights to Jeddah,[24] and launched the lucrative Sylhet-London flight with an Airbus A310-300,[25] while an ATR 72–200 and McDonnell Douglas MD-83 were delivered. In 2011, it added a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, another Airbus A310-300 and an ATR 72–200. Flights to Bangkok started[26] and the carrier launched the route Dhaka-Rajshahi-Saidpur. In 2012, it began flights to Muscat from Dhaka and Chittagong, restarted the Chittagong-Kolkata flight, and it also resumed flights to Bangkok.[27] [28] [29]
In 2013, it added two McDonnell Douglas MD-83[30] and an ATR 72–200.[31] [32] It launched flights to Singapore and domestic flights to Ishwardi.[33] [34]
In 2014, the carrier launched flights to Doha in May.[35] The airline was scheduled to commence flights to Karachi[13] [36]
On 24 September 2014 evening, United Airways temporarily suspended all domestic and international flights.[10] [12] [13] A conflict of interest among board members was the reason for the short suspension.[11] The day before the suspension, the resignation of Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury, the chairman and managing director was announced by the airline; following that the board was reshuffled and temporary chairman and managing director were appointed.[37] [38] More than two thousand passengers were stranded in Bangladesh and abroad because of flight cancellations;[11] [39] international flights to Doha, Muscat and Kuala Lumpur from Dhaka did not leave.[12] The suspension also affected the investors of the listed company, as stock prices fell by 7.63 percent at Dhaka Stock Exchange.[40] However, on 27 September, three days after the suspension, the carrier resumed operations with a domestic flight following a consensus among board members.[11] [41]
The airline ceased all operations on 6 March 2016. As of that date, all nine of its aircraft were reportedly grounded for technical reasons.[14] Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission in its letter dated 28 February 2021 suspended previous board of directors and appointed a new board of directors with 8 independent directors. The new board took over the charges on 4 March 2021.
Controversies
In June 2011, a court in London had ordered United Airways to repaint its fleet and change its name in the UK after a legal action was taken by American carrier United Airlines.[42] [43] Lawyers for United Airlines said that United Airways had "illegally violated" its trademark and "wrongly associated its services with" those of the American airline.[44] [45] The problem arose when United Airways had services to London Gatwick Airport, which may have confused passengers flying with United Airlines.
In November 2012, United Airways was alleged of inflating its FY 2012–13 first-quarter earnings.[46] The Securities and Exchange Commission later formed a panel to look into its irregularities. Earlier in an investigation, the Dhaka Stock Exchange found anomalies in preparing financial statements by United Airways. It also detected a manipulative trading pattern by an individual investor to create artificial demand for the airline shares. The carrier falsified its first quarter earnings' report to show positive earnings per share. United Airways later admitted that it did not show deferred tax in its financial statement.[47]
In April 2014, CAAB threatened to suspend the carrier's operations due to outstanding aeronautical and non-aeronautical fees of around BDT 770 million.[48] [49] The regulator also imposed a ban on sale or purchase of aircraft by United Airways until it clears all current and outstanding charges in the next one year. CAAB also criticised the airline for not making payments on-time in the past. Following an order from the High Court, CAAB temporarily renewed the airline's AOC.[50]
Destinations
United Airways served the following destinations (as of August 2015):[51] The airline ceased all its domestic and international operations in 2016.[52]
Fleet
As of September 2016, the United Airways fleet consisted of the following aircraft:[54]
United Airways Fleet| Aircraft | In Service | Orders | Passengers
(Economy) | Notes |
|---|
| Airbus A310-300 | 2 | — | | |
| ATR 72-200 | 3 | — | | |
| Bombardier Dash 8–100 | 1 | — | | |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-83 | 5 | style="text-align:center;" | - | | |
| Total | 11 | — | | |
|---|
In-flight amenities
United Airways operated all economy cabin seats in all of its aircraft. In-flight meals were provided on international flights, whereas juices and confectioneries were provided on domestic flights. None of its aircraft were equipped with in-flight entertainment. It had an in-flight magazine called Welcome Bangladesh.[55]
Accidents and incidents
- 13 August 2012: Flight 546, an ATR 72–212 registered S2-AFE, was performing a domestic flight en route to Dhaka from Jessore, carrying 10 passengers, when the windshield of the first officer (co-pilot) completely blew out due to high pressure at an altitude of 9000 feet. The captain safely landed the plane at Shahjalal International Airport. The first officer received an eye injury.[56] [57]
- 20 July 2014: Flight 501, an ATR 72–212 registered S2-AFN, was performing a domestic flight en route to Cox's Bazar from Dhaka, carrying 43 passengers and 5 crews, when the nose gear collapsed after safely landing at Cox's Bazar Airport. This caused severe damage to the front fuselage of the aircraft. The airport was shut down for 22 hours until the aircraft was safely evacuated from the runway.[58]
- 11 August 2014: Flight 584, an MD-83, performing an international flight en route to Dhaka, Bangladesh from Muscat, Oman, carrying 148 passengers, narrowly averted a mid-air collision with a Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 cargo aircraft while flying over Kolkata airspace in India due to a mistake by an air traffic controller from Kolkata Air Traffic Control.[59] The MD-83 was at a cruising altitude of about 33,000 feet when ATC asked the aircraft to descend to 29,000 feet.[59] While descending, at an altitude of 32,000 feet, the aircraft's TCAS warned the pilots of an imminent collision with the nearby aircraft.[59] The captain of the United Airways aircraft, claimed he was in "visual distance" with the Saudia 747. He followed procedures and ascended to 33,000 feet to avoid the collision.[59]
- 7 August 2015: Flight 585, an MD-83 registered S2-AEI, was performing an international flight en route to Muscat, Oman from Dhaka, Bangladesh, carrying 173 passengers, had to make an emergency landing at Raipur Airport in Chhattisgarh, India due to an engine failure in air.[60] The aircraft landed safely and everyone on board were unhurt.[61] The aircraft, although it was repaired, it could not fly out of Raipur before United ceased operations. As of March 2021, the aircraft is still sitting at Raipur Airport.[62]
Notes and References
- Web site: United Airways Fleet Details and History. Planespotters.net. 14 August 2015.
- Web site: Annual Report (2012–2013). United Airways. 10 November 2013.
- "https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/airlines/united-airways-bangladesh-4h." CAPA. Retrieved on August 25, 2018. "United Airways Profile."
- "Our offices United Airways. Retrieved on 2 March 2010.
- News: Takeoff for Bangladesh's second private passenger airline . Khaleej Times . 10 July 2007.
- News: United Airways to expand flights overseas . 14 August 2012 . The Daily Star . 16 August 2012.
- News: SEC forms panel to look into United Airways' anomalies . 20 November 2012 . The Daily Star . 3 December 2013.
- News: United Airways resumes domestic flights with 'alternative arrangement' . 24 April 2014 . bdnews24.com . 23 August 2015.
- News: United Airways to resume flights . 24 May 2015 . The Daily Star . 23 August 2015.
- News: Cash crunch downs United Airways. 25 September 2014 . The Daily Star . 26 September 2014.
- News: United Airways resumes operations. 27 September 2014 . The Daily Star . 27 September 2014.
- News: Hit by funds crunch, United Airways suspends flights from Thursday . 24 September 2014 . . 26 September 2014.
- Web site: Bangladesh's United Airways suspends operations . 26 September 2014 . Ch-aviation . 26 September 2014.
- Web site: Bangladesh's United Airways suspends operations again . 6 March 2016 . Ch-aviation.
- Web site: United Airways Introduction and History . United Airways . 14 August 2012.
- News: United Airways starts journey . 11 July 2007 . . 14 August 2012.
- News: United Airways flies to Cox's Bazar, Jessore . 8 September 2012 . The Daily Star . 24 October 2012.
- News: Barisal misses air links on United's flight suspension . 11 August 2009 . The Daily Star . 24 October 2012.
- News: United Airways to fly beyond border today . 24 September 2008 . The Daily Star . 15 August 2012.
- News: United makes London debut. 22 November 2009 . The Daily Star . 24 October 2012.
- News: United flies to Dubai from July . 6 November 2009 . The Daily Star . 24 October 2012.
- News: United spreads wings to KL today . 21 December 2009 . The Daily Star . 24 October 2012.
- News: United Airways take off to 3 overseas destinations in July . 22 April 2009 . The Daily Star . 24 October 2012.
- News: United launches Jeddah flight from July 29 . 11 July 2010 . The Daily Star . 24 October 2012.
- News: United Airways widens wings . 27 October 2009 . The Daily Star . 24 October 2012.
- News: United Airways to connect Bangkok . 26 May 2011 . The Daily Star . 15 August 2012.
- News: United Airways to connect Muscat . 25 December 2011 . The Daily Star . 16 August 2012.
- News: United Airways launches Chitttagong-Kolkata flight . New Age . Dhaka . 20 June 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140221074215/http://www.newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2012-06-20&nid=14321#.WFOMqPkrJaQ . 21 February 2014 . 16 August 2012.
- Web site: UABL resumes Dhaka-Bangkok flights . 16 August 2012 . Bangladesh Monitor . https://web.archive.org/web/20140221045131/http://www.bangladeshmonitor.net/news_detail.php?nhid=3752&CID=3 . 21 February 2014 . 16 August 2012.
- News: United Airways plans more flights on domestic, regional routes . 14 May 2013 . The Financial Express . Dhaka . 14 May 2013.
- News: United Airways gets new aircraft to offer better service . 22 August 2013 . The Financial Express . Dhaka . 22 August 2013.
- Web site: Private sector airlines yet to be allowed to construct hangars . 1 March 2013 . The Bangladesh Monitor . https://web.archive.org/web/20130323020639/http://bangladeshmonitor.net/news_detail.php?nhid=4288&CID=3 . 23 March 2013 . 2 March 2013.
- News: United Airways to introduce Dhaka-Singapore flights . 30 September 2013 . . Dhaka . 1 October 2013.
- News: United Airways launches Dhaka-Ishwardi flight . 31 October 2013 . Dhaka Mirror . 31 October 2013.
- Web site: United Airways starts operations to Doha . 16 May 2014 . The Bangladesh Monitor . https://web.archive.org/web/20140521150234/http://www.bangladeshmonitor.net/news_detail.php?nhid=5329&CID=3 . 21 May 2014 . 21 May 2014.
- News: United Airways to start Dhaka-Karachi flight Sept 27 . 9 September 2014 . The Financial Express . Dhaka . 12 September 2014.
- News: United Airways chairman resigns; high-ups reshuffled . The Daily Star . 24 September 2014 . 26 September 2014.
- News: United Airways Chairman Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury resigns . 23 September 2014 . bdnews24.com . 26 September 2014.
- News: Grounded United Airways torments domestic, international flyers . 25 September 2014 . bdnews24.com. 26 September 2014.
- News: Uncertainty grips retail shareholders of United Airways . The Daily Star . 26 September 2014 . 26 September 2014.
- News: United Airways flights resume . 27 September 2014 . bdnews24.com . 27 September 2014.
- Web site: Court orders Bangladesh's United Airways to repaint fleet. 28 June 2011. Flightglobal. 16 April 2014.
- Web site: UK Court Backs United Airlines in Trademark Ruling. 1 July 2011. Aviation News International Online. 16 April 2014.
- Web site: United Airways Ordered to Change its Brand. 1 October 2011. Asia IP. 16 April 2014.
- Web site: United Airlines takes on United Airways – Can we guess the victor?. 30 June 2011. Airlinereporter.com. 16 April 2014.
- News: United Airways inflates first quarter earnings . 13 November 2012 . The Daily Star . 16 April 2014.
- News: DSE seeks regulator's advice on United Airways' revised EPS estimate . 18 November 2012 . . Dhaka . 16 April 2014.
- News: United Airways in trouble. 16 April 2014 . The Daily Star . 16 April 2014.
- News: United Airways saves licence paying Tk 10 mln . 6 April 2014 . bdnews24.com . 16 April 2014.
- News: Safety flaws pose risk. 23 August 2014 . The Daily Star . 12 September 2014.
- Web site: United Airways Flight Schedule. United Airways. 28 March 2014.
- News: United Airways flights suspended. The Dhaka Tribune. 9 June 2019.
- Web site: United Airways starts twice-weekly service to London (Gatwick). World Airline News. 7 December 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131209075635/http://worldairlinenews.com/2009/12/07/united-airways-starts-twice-weekly-service-to-london-gatwick/. live. 9 December 2013.
- Web site: United Airways Fleet Information. United Airways. 20 September 2016.
- News: United Airways unveils in-flight magazine. 19 August 2010 . The Daily Star . 1 September 2012.
- News: Plane lost windshield in mid-air. 29 August 2012 . The Daily Star . 1 September 2012.
- News: Accident: United Airways ATR72 near Dhaka on Aug 13th 2012, windshield completely blown out . 14 August 2012 . The Aviation Herald . 16 August 2012.
- News: Accident: United Airways AT72 at Coxs Bazar on Jul 20th 2014, nose gear collapse. 21 July 2014. The Aviation Herald. 9 August 2014.
- News: A close shave . The Daily Star . 13 August 2014 . 13 August 2014.
- News: United Airways plane makes emergency landing in Chhattisgarh. 7 August 2015 . The Daily Star . 23 August 2015.
- News: Incident: United Airways MD83 near Raipur on Aug 7th 2015, engine shut down in flight. 8 August 2015. The Aviation Herald. 23 August 2015.
- News: Deol. Taran. 2021-03-12. Why a Bangladesh plane that made emergency landing in 2015 is still stuck in Raipur. 2021-03-12. ThePrint. en-US.
