Chief Operating Officer - US-Bangla Airlines (Relocation to Bangladesh)

Company Background

US-Bangla Airlines stands as Bangladesh's largest private passenger airline, commencing operations in July 2014 from its base in Dhaka. The airline serves an expanding network spanning domestic and international destinations throughout Asia and the Middle East. Equipped with a modern fleet including ATR 72-600, Boeing 737-800, and Airbus A330-300 aircraft, it is recognized as a leading regional airline.

Role Overview

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will lead all operational facets of the airline, ensuring safe, efficient, and commercially viable operations. This executive role oversees performance metrics such as fleet reliability, on-time performance, safety initiatives, cost optimization, and passenger experience excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct and manage all operational departments to align strategies with corporate goals.
• Ensure safe, efficient, and profitable airline operations while setting priorities across all stations.
• Lead initiatives to enhance operational excellence and facilitate coordination among departments.
• Oversee flight operations ensuring compliance with manuals, pilot performance, safety monitoring, crew optimization, and operational efficiency.
• Supervise engineering and maintenance activities to maintain aircraft airworthiness, increase fleet reliability, reduce ground time, approve maintenance policies, and manage costs alongside fleet transition efforts.
• Strategically oversee ground operations including passenger services, ramp activities, load control, baggage handling, aircraft turnaround, airport operations, and station management.
• Set standards and improve cabin services, ensuring regulatory compliance, customer satisfaction, crew productivity, and operational efficiency onboard.
• Manage the Operations Control Centre functions such as flight dispatch, crew control, aircraft routing, flight monitoring, handling irregular operations, and disruption recovery.
• Ensure strict adherence to local and international regulatory frameworks including CAAB, ICAO, IATA, IOSA, manufacturers’ protocols, airport rules, and security measures.
• Continuously monitor and work on improving operational KPIs including on-time performance, flight completion, dispatch reliability, aircraft usage, delays, fuel efficiency, crew productivity, and turnaround times.
• Lead crisis and emergency responses covering aircraft incidents, flight disruptions, severe weather, security issues, airport shutdowns, technical emergencies, pandemics, and business continuity events.
• Drive strategic growth projects such as fleet expansion, launching new destinations, airport development, digitization of operations, fuel-saving programs, IOSA certification renewal, new aircraft induction, and operational transformation.

Required Competencies

• Core: Safety consciousness, outstanding customer service, ethical conduct, collaboration, adaptability, strategic analysis, problem-solving, and leadership development.
• Functional: Expertise in airline operations, flight and cabin management, aircraft maintenance, safety systems, regulatory compliance, airline economics, crisis response, fleet planning, budgeting, performance management, quality assurance, and continuity planning.

Educational & Professional Qualifications

• Master's degree in Aviation Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or related fields.
• Mandatory Bachelor's degree.
• Professional qualifications in aviation are highly favored.

Experience Requirement

• Over 18 years of total experience with at least 10 years in commercial aviation.
• Preferable prior roles include COO, Director of Operations, Vice President of Operations, or similar senior operations leadership positions.

Benefits & Perks

• Fully furnished accommodation provided.
• Company vehicle with chauffeur available six days a week.
• Flight benefits for domestic and international travel.
• Health insurance coverage.