Malaysia's budget airline AirAsia will start operating flights from Bangladesh by year-end and expects the route to flourish due to demand for regional travel, an official said Friday.

"The airline will start operating flights from Bangladesh from the winter season," said Salman Obaidul Karim, managing director of East West Airlines.

East West Airlines is general sales agent for the Malaysian carrier.

The airline would begin with cheap regional flights to countries in Southeast Asia followed by a joint venture with East West Airlines offering domestic flights in Bangladesh, he said.

Huge prospects

"We see huge prospects for operating flights from Bangladesh with a large number of passengers flying regularly to Malaysia, Thailand and other destinations in the region," added Kamaruddin Meranun, deputy chief executive officer of the airline.

AirAsia, which was launched as a budget carrier in December 2001 with just two aircraft, has become a significant player in the industry and been imitated by national carriers along with a host of new low-cost entrants.

It is now southeast Asia's biggest low-cost carrier in terms of fleet size and derives much of its business within Malaysia. It also operates in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and China.