Bangladesh-Pakistan direct flights to resume Thursday

After a 14-year hiatus, direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan are set to resume on Thursday (January 29).

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate the first flight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka to Karachi, with all 162 seats reportedly sold out.

Biman’s Managing Director and CEO Dr. Safiqur Rahman said the flight will take approximately three hours and highlighted that the service will ease travel for passengers while opening new avenues for trade and business between the two countries.

Direct flights on the Dhaka-Karachi route were suspended in 2012. Discussions to revive the route resurfaced in 2024 following political changes. The operation has now been approved by the governments of Bangladesh and Pakistan, as well as the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, initially until March 30, 2026, after which it will be reviewed.

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has instructed Biman Bangladesh to strictly follow the designated route, provide detailed flight information to Karachi Airport prior to departure, and ensure operational coordination. Both countries’ aviation and passenger safety regulations must also be strictly adhered to.

The resumption of direct flights will enable easier travel to Karachi and other Pakistani cities for Bangladeshi citizens, while boosting trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.

Experts believe the route will further strengthen economic and diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines anticipates that the renewed service will pave the way for launching additional international routes in the long term.