A carrier dedicated to cargo in Bangladesh, legal name Sky Capital Airlines Ltd., which obtained its air operator certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh in 2009, began commercial operations in January 2010 and adopted the SkyAir brand in 2014. Part of the Blue Planet Group, it is based at Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with Cox's Bazar Airport as second base, holds its own fleet and ground handling facilities inside Bangladesh, and has its own cargo sales and service general agent in China, so international cargo arriving from China can connect at Dhaka towards Chittagong and Sylhet.
Chinese-language service provider: Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited, handling booking, customs declaration and end-to-end logistics for international air freight, on routes from China to the United States and all major continents.
SkyAir (legal name Sky Capital Airlines Ltd., IATA two-letter code: S8, ICAO three-letter code: AHW, callsign Sky Capital, IATA accounting code 442) was established in 2009, obtained its air operator certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh in November that year, began commercial operations on 26 January 2010 and was renamed from Sky Capital Airlines to SkyAir in May 2014. The head office is in Uttara Sector 6, Dhaka, and the operating office is in the hangar area near Gate 8 of Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, which is the main base, with Cox's Bazar Airport as second base. The airline is part of the Blue Planet Group and its chairman is Md Arifur Rahman.
The airline's focus is domestic air cargo and ground handling in Bangladesh. Public sources list domestic sectors including Dhaka to Sylhet, Dhaka to Chittagong and Dhaka to Cox's Bazar to Jessore, with domestic capacity of about 150 tonnes a week. Unlike most carriers that only fly aircraft, it has built its own ground handling facilities at each station and has equipment and facility cooperation agreements with carriers including Biman Bangladesh Airlines, bringing the ground side of cargo under its own management and reducing the connection risk that comes with multiple subcontractors.
Its China business rests mainly on a sales agent network and transfer connections. A cargo sales and service general agent is already established in China, and international cargo arriving from China at Dhaka can be transferred on domestic sectors such as Dhaka to Chittagong and Dhaka to Sylhet under the special prorate agreements signed with Qatar Airways and Saudia, then delivered to destinations inside Bangladesh. The airline has also published plans for two routes, Dhaka to Kunming and Dhaka to Guangzhou, without announcing opening dates. Chinese shippers wanting to use its domestic transfer and ground handling resources can have Goodhope coordinate and verify feasibility for the individual shipment.
| Airline | SkyAir Legal name Sky Capital Airlines Ltd. |
| Company type | All-cargo carrier, also providing ground handling and maintenance |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Global headquarters | Uttara Sector 6, Dhaka |
| Hub airport | Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka (DAC) Secondary base: Cox's Bazar Airport (CXB) |
| Founded | 2009, with operations starting in January 2010 |
| IATA two-letter code | S8 |
| ICAO three-letter code | AHW |
| IATA settlement code | 442 |
| Official lookup website | www.skycapitalcargo.com |
| Parent company | Blue Planet Group |
| Cargo aircraft | Boeing 737-200F freighters, Fokker 50 freighters, Robinson R66 helicopters (as publicly listed) |
| China services | Own cargo sales and service general agent in China Planned Dhaka to Kunming and Dhaka to Guangzhou routes |
The information above is compiled from public sources. Operating routes and fleet structure may change with operating needs, and the carrier's latest publication governs.
Operating sectors from Dhaka to Sylhet, Dhaka to Chittagong and Dhaka to Cox's Bazar to Jessore, with domestic capacity listed publicly at about 150 tonnes a week.
Transfer of international cargo between Dhaka and Chittagong or Sylhet under special prorate agreements with carriers including Qatar Airways and Saudia.
Cargo charters and domestic non-scheduled flights, plus joint cargo flights with other carriers, suited to bulk shipments and ad hoc requirements.
Own ground handling facilities at each station, plus operational support for foreign-registered aircraft flying into or over Bangladeshi airspace.
Service structure: the airline organizes capacity differently from carriers built around international mainlines, and what it can add is concentrated in the domestic leg inside Bangladesh. International cargo from China normally arrives at Dhaka on a trunk carrier and then transfers on the Dhaka to Chittagong or Dhaka to Sylhet sectors. Where Chittagong or Sylhet is the final destination, a Chinese shipper can confirm trunk capacity and domestic transfer capacity under one plan, cutting the handovers that come with two separate instructions.
As publicly listed, the SkyAir fleet consists of fixed-wing freighters and helicopters. The Boeing 737-200F is a narrowbody all-cargo aircraft with main-deck side-door loading, suited to regional and medium sectors, with published reference payload of about 15 tonnes and range of about 2,500 kilometres. The Fokker 50 is a twin turboprop suited to short sectors and smaller airports, with published reference payload of about 5 tonnes and range of about 2,000 kilometres. Pairing the two types gives a capacity gradient between domestic trunk and regional sectors: the turboprops fly shorter sectors with moderate volumes, the narrowbody freighter flies larger volumes or longer sectors. The airline also lists one Robinson R66 helicopter for helicopter transport work, and plans to introduce Boeing 737-300 or 737-400 medium freighters to expand medium-haul capacity.
| Aircraft type | Number | Payload (published reference) | Range (published reference) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-200F | 1 aircraft | About 15,545 kilograms | About 2,520 kilometres |
| Fokker 50 / Fokker 27 MK 050 | 2 aircraft | About 5,000 kilograms | About 2,055 kilometres |
| Robinson R66 | 1 aircraft | Helicopter transport | — |
| Lockheed L-1011F (historical) | 2 aircraft | Widebody freighter, withdrawn from service | — |
The table is compiled from published material and figures listed on the carrier's website. Payload and range are reference values; actual available payload depends on sector distance, temperature, runway conditions and take-off weight limits.
| Narrowbody freighter | Larger volumes or longer sectors |
| Turboprop types | Shorter sectors with moderate volumes, and operations at smaller airports |
| Main deck loading | Supports pallet and loose cargo loading |
| Ground facilities | Own ground handling facilities at each station |
| Maintenance capability | An approved maintenance organisation under the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, able to carry out line maintenance |
| Expansion plans | Boeing 737-300 or 737-400 medium freighters to be introduced |
The chart shows published reference values used to compare the payload magnitude of the two types. Actual available payload is calculated by the carrier for each shipment, and figures for the planned types have not been published.
The airline has its own cargo sales and service general agent in China, and the scheduled direct route to China listed in public sources is at the planning stagePlanned. The Dhaka to Kunming and Dhaka to Guangzhou routes are part of the published expansion plan with no opening date announced; no public information is available on scheduled mainland China points and frequencies.
Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is the main base and Cox's Bazar Airport the second base, with Sylhet and Chittagong the main domestic cargo points, and the airline has built ground handling facilities at those stations.
The airline has operated scheduled and charter cargo to the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe and the CIS, and now connects international flows mainly through special prorate agreements with other carriers while also operating cargo charters and joint cargo flights.
| Sector or route | Code | Business type | Operating status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhaka—Chittagong—Dhaka | DAC / CGP | Domestic scheduled cargo and transfer | In operation |
| Dhaka—Sylhet—Dhaka | DAC / ZYL | Domestic scheduled cargo and transfer | In operation |
| Dhaka—Cox's Bazar—Jessore—Dhaka | DAC / CXB / JSR | Domestic scheduled cargo | In operation |
| Cox's Bazar–Jessore–Cox's Bazar | CXB / JSR | Domestic regional cargo | In operation |
| Dhaka—Kunming, China—Dhaka | DAC / KMG | Planned international cargo routes | Not yet launched |
| Dhaka–Guangzhou, China–Dhaka | DAC / CAN | Planned international cargo routes | Not yet launched |
| Dhaka—Dubai and other Middle East points | DAC / DXB and others | Historical international routes and charters | Mainly connected by agreement |
Sectors and status are compiled from public sources. Planned routes are not yet open and neither schedules nor aircraft have been announced; frequency on operating sectors is subject to the carrier's confirmation on the day of booking.
The airline currently has no scheduled service originating in mainland China. Chinese cargo uses its services by handover at Dhaka to the trunk leg, after which the airline's domestic capacity and ground resources cover the second half inside Bangladesh. Given its sector layout towards Chittagong and Sylhet, the reachable area for Chinese cargo is concentrated in the industrial and port districts of south-eastern and north-eastern Bangladesh, which are also the main centres of the country's garment processing and seafood exports.
Operational note:For Chinese cargo with Chittagong or Sylhet as the final destination, trunk capacity from China to Dhaka and domestic transfer capacity beyond Dhaka can be confirmed under one plan. For shipments from China to the United States and Europe, Goodhope matches capacity with the appropriate mainline carriers, quotes the whole movement and handles customs declaration and title handover.
| Company address | House 14, Road 03, Sector 06, Uttara, Dhaka-1230, Bangladesh |
| Operating office | Hangar area near Gate 8, Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport |
| Telephone | +880-2-8920532 |
| Fax | +880-2-8922277 |
| Office email | info@skycapitalcargo.com |
| Official website | www.skycapitalcargo.com |
| Contact in China | Own cargo sales and service general agent in China; requirements can be submitted through Goodhope for verification of the connection planCan connect to |
Because the China direction needs both a trunk carrier and SkyAir, the key at booking is matching the timing of the two legs and joining the documents. A forwarder familiar with the domestic Bangladeshi network and transfer rules can reduce waiting and re-routing between the two legs; the main benefits are as follows.
Ground handling facilities are built at each operating station in Bangladesh, with equipment and facility cooperation agreements with carriers including Biman Bangladesh Airlines, so the ground side of the domestic leg is handled in-house.
With its own cargo sales and service general agent in China, international cargo from China can be booked and connected through that channel, cutting communication steps.
Special prorate agreements with carriers including Qatar Airways and Saudia give international cargo a contractual basis for transfer on the Dhaka to Chittagong and Dhaka to Sylhet sectors.
Covering Dhaka to Sylhet, Dhaka to Chittagong and Dhaka to Cox's Bazar to Jessore, with domestic capacity listed publicly at about 150 tonnes a week.
Holds approved maintenance organisation status under the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh and can carry out line maintenance, and provides operational support for foreign-registered aircraft flying into or over Bangladeshi airspace.
The trunk leg from mainland China to Bangladesh must be flown by another carrier, and the Dhaka to Kunming and Dhaka to Guangzhou routes are not yet openPlanned. The fleet is small, so domestic capacity in peak season should be requested early.
Where it fits: what SkyAir can add is concentrated in the domestic Bangladeshi leg rather than the trunk leg from China. Where the destination is Chittagong, Sylhet or Cox's Bazar, a Chinese shipper can consider using it for transfer and ground handling beyond Dhaka; where full-aircraft capacity direct to Dhaka is needed, Goodhope will also assess other carriers with widebody freighters in service.
The trunk leg from China to Dhaka and the domestic leg beyond Dhaka are usually flown by different carriers, so title and documents have to be handed over at Dhaka. In practice the plan should state the transit time limit at Dhaka, the transfer documents for the domestic connection and the division of responsibility, so that cargo does not sit at Dhaka on incomplete paperwork. Goodhope lists the carrier, sector and charges for both legs in the plan for item-by-item checking.
Domestic sectors in Bangladesh are affected by fleet allocation, weather and airport operating conditions, so actual departure timing varies. For cargo with Chittagong or Sylhet as the final destination, the delivery plan should allow buffer time on the domestic leg; for batches with tight transit requirements, it is worth comparing direct options from other carriers before deciding.
The airline has built ground handling facilities at each operating station and holds operating space inside Dhaka airport, able to provide loading, storage and apron support for inbound and outbound cargo. Beyond its own flights it also provides operational support for foreign-registered aircraft flying into or over Bangladeshi airspace and runs joint cargo flights with other carriers, and that capability can serve charters or ad hoc stops organized through Bangladesh.
The airline is part of the Blue Planet Group, whose businesses span textiles, garments, hotels and tourism, air cargo and investment. The group's base in garments and textiles gives the airline a degree of cargo stability through the seasonal swings in Bangladeshi export volumes, and also concentrates demand for its domestic capacity in the export peak. Chinese shippers shipping in peak season should lock domestic capacity early.
SkyAir is the Bangladeshi all-cargo carrier, legal name Sky Capital Airlines Ltd., established in 2009 with its air operator certificate, in commercial operation since January 2010 and trading under the SkyAir brand since 2014. Its IATA two-letter code is S8, its ICAO three-letter code is AHW and its IATA accounting code is 442.
No public information is available on scheduled mainland China points and frequencies. The airline has its own cargo sales and service general agent in China, and the published Dhaka to Kunming and Dhaka to Guangzhou routes are at the planning stage and not yet open.
The fleet in service listed publicly includes Boeing 737-200F freighters, Fokker 50 freighters and Robinson R66 helicopters, with the Boeing 737-200F listed at a reference payload of about 15,545 kilograms. A Lockheed L-1011F widebody freighter operated earlier has been withdrawn.
Operating domestic sectors include Dhaka to Chittagong, Dhaka to Sylhet, Dhaka to Cox's Bazar to Jessore and Cox's Bazar to Jessore, with domestic capacity listed publicly at about 150 tonnes a week.
Chinese cargo first arrives at Dhaka on a trunk carrier, then transfers on the Dhaka to Chittagong and Dhaka to Sylhet sectors under the special prorate agreements signed with carriers including Qatar Airways and Saudia. The airline has its own cargo sales and service general agent in China able to connect the flow.
The airline has operated scheduled and charter cargo to the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe and the CIS and took part in the Navoi cargo hub project with Uzbekistan Airways and Korean Air. For shipments to Europe and North America today, Goodhope matches capacity with the appropriate mainline carriers, and where a full-aircraft charter is genuinely needed it can assess several carriers with freighters in service and give a comparison.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited, based in Shenzhen, China, specializes in international air freight from China to the United States and major markets worldwide. It books trunk capacity from China to Bangladesh and can arrange customs clearance, pickup and domestic transfer and delivery from Dhaka to Chittagong, Sylhet, Cox's Bazar and other points, covering quoting, customs declaration, air freight, clearance and delivery. Transport plans and rates are available on request.
Disclaimer:Prepared by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight). Airline names, codes, trademarks and brand marks mentioned here belong to their respective owners. We are an independent international freight forwarder and have no affiliation, agency or investment relationship with this airline. The information is compiled from public sources for reference only and does not form a contract of carriage or a service commitment. Space, rates and schedules are subject to actual confirmation by the carrier or its authorized agent on the day of booking.