Singapore Airlines (SIA) Cargo has begun a weekly westbound B747-400 freighter service to the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka from 3 April with a routing of Singapore – Dhaka – Sharjah – Brussels. This new capacity to Dhaka is in addition to the bellyhold capacity available on Singapore Airlines’ existing passenger service.

“This service will play an important role in opening up Bangladesh’s trade links with direct access to its export markets in Europe and the USA, and enter new emerging markets in South America via Brussels,” said Tan Tiow Kor, senior VP Sales and Marketing for SIA Cargo.

The main export item from Dhaka is ready-made garments; other major exports include finished leather and leather products, fresh fruits, vegetables, medicines, jute and jute products, textile fabrics, handicrafts, ceramics and tea. Major imports into Bangladesh include raw materials for garments, electronic goods, pharmaceutical raw materials, electronics and computer parts, telecommunications equipment and mobile phone accessories.