Largely, Bangladesh’s air cargo industry witnessed a 16.47 per cent growth in the last fiscal year. With cargo operations of the national flag carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and foreign airlines remaining stagnant, private cargo carriers of the country have recorded an impressive growth of over 100 percent on efficient services.
Biman, 16 foreign airlines and five local private airlines carried 99,000 tons of cargo in the last fiscal year against 85,000 tons in the previous fiscal. Private operators alone carried around 24,000 tons of international cargo in 2003-2004 up from 2002-2003 fiscal's figure of 11,500 tons, showing a growth of 108 per cent. 
Motivated by the success, private cargo airlines are planning huge expansion both on international and domestic fronts. M.A. Mannan, Managing Director Bismillah Airlines said, "As private operators offer quality and express service, exporters now rely on us. My company plans to procure one more chartered aircraft for the next season that begins in February." He further added, "The Tk 800 crore - Tk 1,000 crore air cargo industries can solve the lead time problem and become affordable for exporters if the government reduces ground handling and parking charges at airports." 
Bismillah Airlines currently has one plane for international and two for domestic freight service. 

Best Aviation, which specialises in domestic air cargo market carrying shrimp fries from Cox's Bazar to Jessore, has now planned to make foray into international cargo business. "We will start a cargo flight from September 18 on Chittagong-Middle East destinations. The 40,000 kg capacity flight will fly twice a week to the Middle East, mainly for perishable cargo," said M. Haideruzzaman, Managing Director of the company. "We will also use our domestic flights to bring vegetables from Jessore to Chittagong to be finally sent to the Middle East," he added.
Air Bangladesh, another private cargo carrier has already acquired a Boeing 747 aircraft for cargo operation. The 110-ton capacity plane, crossing the registration process, is expected to go into international cargo operation soon. "According to our agreement with an American company we will obtain another Boeing 747 and the carrier is expected to arrive in Dhaka shortly. We are bringing in big aircraft to meet the growing demand," said Md Shahjalal Mazumder, Chairman Air Bangladesh. 
Moin Rashid, Chairman and CEO Z-Airways Services showed concern as he said, "We want to go for further expansion but high ground handling and parking charges deter us. We cannot reduce freightage to make it more affordable due to the high airport charges."

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is planning to add seven new Turbo-Prop Aircraft to replace the 8 aging F-27 (Fokker) for the convenience and comfort of the passengers, as told by Maj. General (R) Muhammad Ashraf Chaudhry, Additional Secretary. 

Senior Federal Minister and Minister for 

Defence, Rao Sikander Iqbal and Minister of State for Defence Mr. Zahid Hamid were present during the briefing. He informed the ministers that the delivery of the aircrafts will begin in January 2005 and that it will especially benefit the people of northern areas and Baluchistan tremendously.