Pakistan and Bangladesh restore non-stop Air connectivity after 14 years

Non-stop air connectivity between Bangladesh and Pakistan was restored on Thursday after a gap of 14 years as a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Dhaka landed at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, officials said.

According to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), flight BG-341 arrived in Karachi on Thursday evening, becoming the first direct commercial flight between the two countries since 2012. The aircraft was received with a traditional water salute and a ceremonial welcome at the airport.

“This is the first flight from Dhaka to land at Jinnah International Airport after 14 years. A new chapter in Pakistan-Bangladesh friendship has begun with the restoration of air connectivity,” the PAA said in a statement.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate two weekly flights on the Dhaka-Karachi route on Thursdays and Saturdays under a temporary licence valid until March 30, during which authorities will assess the viability of long-term operations. The service requires overflight clearance through Indian airspace, and aviation sources said necessary permissions have been obtained from Indian authorities in line with standard international aviation protocols.

As per the schedule, the flight will depart Dhaka at 8 pm local time and reach Karachi at 11 pm . The return service will leave Karachi at midnight and arrive in Dhaka at 4.20 am .

Officials said the resumption of direct flights follows months of diplomatic engagement between the two governments aimed at improving trade, travel and people-to-people exchanges after years of strained relations.

The move comes amid improving ties between Dhaka and Islamabad following political changes in Bangladesh after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted during mass student-led protests in August 2024.

Discussions on restarting direct air services began last year, with formal announcements made during the visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka in August. His trip marked the first high-level bilateral engagement between the two nations in more than a decade.

Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan in 1971, and direct air links had remained suspended for years due to diplomatic and operational challenges.

The re-launch of flights follows approval from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, which cleared Biman Bangladesh Airlines to operate on the route and use designated air corridors within Pakistani airspace, officials said.

Authorities on both sides expressed hope that the restored connectivity would boost trade, tourism and cultural exchanges while strengthening bilateral relations between the two South Asian nations.