After a hiatus of 14 years, direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan are set to resume from January 29, marking a significant revival of air connectivity between the two countries. The first direct flight from Dhaka will arrive in Karachi at 11pm, travelling via Indian airspace.
According to the flight schedule, Bangladesh’s national carrier, Biman Airlines, has issued its Karachi-bound flight plan. The inaugural flight, BG-341, will depart Dhaka for Karachi at 8pm on Thursday, January 29, and is scheduled to land in Karachi at 11pm after transiting Indian airspace. The return flight, BG-342, will depart Karachi for Dhaka at 12:01am.
Travel agents report widespread public enthusiasm in both countries following the restoration of air links. Biman Airlines has opened bookings, and all seats on the initial flights were sold out within just a few hours. In the initial phase, two weekly flights on the Dhaka-Karachi route will be operated on Thursdays and Saturdays. Before this, the last direct flight from Bangladesh to Karachi operated in 2012.
The Civil Aviation Authority, acting on government directives, granted Biman Airlines permission to operate direct flights to Karachi a few days ago. An agreement between Pakistan International Airlines and Biman Airlines for cargo transportation was finalised last month. Biman Airlines has been granted permission to operate these flights until 30 March 2026 and will use Pakistan’s airspace along the approved route.
