AirSial gets approval to launch direct flights to Bangladesh

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has granted approval to Pakistani private airline AirSial to operate direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan.

“We have cleared AirSial to begin direct operations. A formal letter has been sent to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism,” said CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan.

As part of the next steps, AirSial will appoint a General Sales Agent (GSA) in Bangladesh and apply for flight slots.

Officials noted that the airline will not only connect the two countries but also offer Bangladeshi travelers transit options to various international destinations, particularly in the Middle East.

Based in Sialkot, AirSial began operations in August 2015 and currently operates a fleet of six Airbus aircraft.

In February, CAAB also approved Fly Jinnah, another Pakistani carrier, to operate direct flights on the Karachi–Dhaka route.

Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Md. Iqbal Hussain, said AirSial could begin flights to Dhaka within two months of approval. He added that Fly Jinnah is expanding its fleet to support its new routes.

The last Pakistani state-owned airline to serve Bangladesh, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), ceased operations in 2018.