Direct Flights Resume: Dhaka to Karachi Link Restored After 14 Years
Biman Bangladesh Airlines revives non-stop service, marking thaw in bilateral ties.
A historic milestone unfolded on Thursday as a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Dhaka touched down at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport—the first direct commercial landing between the two capitals in 14 years. Flight BG-341 arrived in the evening, greeted by a ceremonial water salute and warm reception from Pakistan Airport Authority officials. The event signals the official restart of air connectivity, ending a long hiatus since the last scheduled service ceased around 2012.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been granted temporary approval to operate the Dhaka-Karachi route twice weekly—on Thursdays and Saturdays—until March 30, 2026, as a trial period before seeking long-term clearance. The outbound flight departs Dhaka at 8:00 pm local time, arriving in Karachi at 11:00 pm, while the return leg leaves Karachi at midnight and reaches Dhaka by 4:20 am. The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has approved designated air corridors, paving the way for smoother operations.
This resumption follows improved diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan, particularly after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 amid widespread protests. Discussions to revive direct flights gained momentum last year during Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Dhaka—the highest-level engagement in over a decade. Officials from both sides view the route as a boost to trade, people-to-people contacts, and overall bilateral cooperation.
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The development carries symbolic weight, coming more than five decades after Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971. With growing bonhomie, the restored air link is seen as a practical step toward normalizing ties strained for years. Authorities expect the service to facilitate business travel, family visits, and cultural exchanges while testing commercial viability.
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