One of Bangladesh’s oldest domestic destinations, Jashore, is facing an existential crisis. With US-Bangla Airlines set to suspend its Dhaka–Jashore operations on July 16, 2026, Jashore Airport is on the verge of becoming an idle facility, threatening the economic stability of the country's southwestern region.

A Drastic Decline in Operations

Jashore Airport, which once handled as many as 18 daily flights and served more than 2,000 passengers, has seen its activity plummet to just nine flights per week. Kamrul Islam, General Manager of Public Relations at US-Bangla Airlines, explained that the decision to suspend their daily service was driven solely by a "shortage of passengers". 

He revealed that the airline has struggled for three years, witnessing a "drastic" reduction in traffic. "A station cannot be kept alive with just one or two flights because the infrastructure costs remain high," Islam noted, adding that while they are suspending operations for commercial reasons, they remain prepared to return if demand recovers.

The ‘Triple Blow’: Padma Bridge, Visas, and Fares

The grounding of the airport is the result of three major factors. First, the opening of the Padma Bridge has significantly improved road connectivity, shifting passengers from Khulna and Jashore to buses and private vehicles. Second, visa restrictions for travel to India have severely impacted the route; Mr. Islam pointed out that many travelers previously used Jashore to reach the Benapole land port, but current visa issues have caused those passengers to disappear. Third, high airfares have become a major deterrent for the remaining travelers.

Biman’s Move : Fare Hikes or Total Suspension?

With US-Bangla's exit, the state-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines remains the sole carrier, but its future on the route is equally grim. A source at Biman Bangladesh Airlines confirmed that the national carrier is also operating at a loss.

"We are losing money on domestic operations," a senior official of Biman told Aviation Express, noting that their current schedule of roughly three flights a week lacks the mobility and flexibility passengers require. To cover these "huge losses," the official indicated that Biman is considering raising fares. To cover the losses fares would need to be increased by as much as two-thirds of current rates. Furthermore, he recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) should intervene by exempting the airline from landing and parking fees at Jashore airport to maintain minimum operations.

A Policy Contradiction: Revival vs. Regression

The imminent grounding of Jashore Airport appears to be a direct contradiction to the new government's stated plan to revive eight domestic airports across the nation. While the administration's policy aims to expand and revitalize regional aviation infrastructure, the effective closure of one of the country's oldest and most historically significant domestic destinations represents a major step backward.