In a significant move to strengthen bilateral ties, Bangladesh's national flag carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, is set to re-establish direct air connectivity with Pakistan. The airline will resume non-stop flights between Dhaka and Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, starting January 29, 2025. This marks the restoration of a vital air link that has been suspended for over a decade.
Flight Schedule and Operational Details
Initially, the state-run airline will operate two weekly flights on this route, every Thursday and Saturday. According to the official announcement, the flight will depart from Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:00 PM local time, arriving in Karachi at 11:00 PM. The return journey will commence from Karachi at 12:00 midnight, with an arrival in Dhaka at 4:20 AM.
The airline plans to deploy modern aircraft with experienced crews for this service. The aerial distance for the journey is approximately 2,370 kilometres, and the flight path is expected to traverse Indian airspace. However, it is not yet publicly confirmed if the necessary overflight permissions from New Delhi have been formally secured by Bangladesh.
Ending Passenger Dependence on Connecting Hubs
This development is a major relief for passengers who have endured lengthy and cumbersome travel between the two nations. For years, travellers have largely depended on connecting flights through Middle Eastern hubs like Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi. This indirect routing often results in total journey times ranging from 8 to 12 hours, and in some cases, extending to a gruelling 18 to 22 hours.
The new direct service will drastically cut travel time, making journeys for business, tourism, and family visits far more convenient. Biman, in its press release, stated that the route will "open up new opportunities for business, tourism and family travel."
A Symbol of Thawing Diplomatic Relations
The resumption of direct flights is a tangible outcome of improving diplomatic relations between Dhaka and Islamabad. Officials revealed that discussions with Pakistani authorities have been ongoing for several months. The route has now received formal approval from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), which has cleared Biman to operate and use designated air corridors within Pakistani airspace.
This move follows the first high-level engagement in over a decade, marked by the visit of Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka in August 2024. Plans for the flight restart were first announced during this visit. The initiative is seen as part of broader efforts to rebuild diplomatic, trade, and people-to-people ties, which have been strained for years since Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971.
The re-launch signifies a new chapter in connectivity, promising to foster greater economic and cultural exchange directly between the two South Asian nations.
