Novoair Dismisses Shutdown Rumors: Flights Operational, Ticket Booking Resumes

Staff Reporter

Private airline Novoair has refuted rumors about ceasing operations, which recently gained traction on social media. Speculations arose after users noticed that the airline’s website was not allowing ticket bookings beyond April 19, 2025. Novoair Managing Director Mofizur Rahman clarified, “The temporary suspension of ticket bookings was due to specific technical reasons. Bookings are now open, and flights will operate as usual.”

A senior Novoair official explained, “We were planning to sell smaller aircraft to acquire larger ones. Temporary booking closures were to accommodate inspections by potential buyers. A meeting on Tuesday resolved to continue flight operations.” Ticket bookings resumed on Tuesday afternoon.

Despite the clarification, some skepticism persists. The sale of two ATR 72-500 aircraft to Nepal’s Yeti Airlines in January 2024 fueled earlier speculations about Novoair scaling down its operations. Currently, Novoair has a fleet of five aircraft.

Established on January 9, 2013, Novoair has conducted over 100,000 flights, serving nearly 7.5 million passengers. The airline introduced innovative services such as the first frequent flyer program in Bangladesh, “Smiles,” co-branded cards, a mobile app, and web check-in options. Novoair has received awards, including “Best Domestic Airline” in 2014 and 2019 and “Best On-Time Performance” in 2022 and 2023 from *The Bangladesh Monitor*.

Novoair currently operates flights on domestic routes including Dhaka to Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet, Jashore, Saidpur, and Rajshahi. Although its international route to Kolkata launched in 2016 is currently suspended, the airline’s future plans remain a subject of curiosity for passengers and industry observers.