Bangladesh to Resume Direct Flights to Pakistan from January 29 After Ten-Year Hiatus

Direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi will resume on January 29, re-establishing a non-stop air link after more than ten years. Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national carrier, will operate these flights twice weekly, on Thursdays and Saturdays. The flight from Dhaka will leave at 8:00 pm local time, reaching Karachi by 11:00 pm. The return journey will start at midnight from Karachi and conclude in Dhaka at 4:20 am.

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Currently, passengers travelling between Bangladesh and Pakistan often rely on connecting flights through cities like Dubai or Doha. This new direct route aims to simplify travel for passengers, reducing the journey time significantly. The aerial distance between Dhaka and Karachi is approximately 2,370 kilometres, with flights expected to traverse Indian airspace. However, it remains unclear if Bangladesh has obtained overflight permissions from India.

Resumption of Direct Flights

The decision to restart this route follows formal approval from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been granted permission to operate within designated air corridors in Pakistani airspace. Discussions with Pakistani authorities have been ongoing for several months to facilitate this development, marking the first direct flights since 2012.

The re-launch of these flights coincides with improved relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan. Diplomatic ties have been strengthening since the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's regime in 2024. Both nations are working towards rebuilding diplomatic, trade, and people-to-people connections after years of strained relations.

Impact on Travel and Business

Biman Bangladesh Airlines stated that this new route would ease passenger travel between the two countries. "The launch of this new route is expected to make passenger travel between Bangladesh and Pakistan easier and more convenient. It will also open up new opportunities for business, tourism and family travel," said the airline in a press release.

Presently, airlines such as Air Arabia, Gulf Air, Flydubai, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Thai Airways offer transit flights from Bangladesh to Pakistan. These journeys can take anywhere from eight to 22 hours due to layovers. The introduction of direct flights is anticipated to reduce travel time considerably.

Background and Future Prospects

The plan to resume direct flights was initially announced last August during a visit by Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka. This visit marked the first high-level engagement between the two countries in over a decade. The new service will use modern aircraft with experienced crews to ensure a smooth travel experience.

Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan in 1971, leading to complex bilateral relations over the years. The resumption of direct flights signifies a step towards improved cooperation and connectivity between the two nations.

With inputs from PTI