Dhaka to Karachi resumes direct flights after 14 years
Dhaka to Karachi resumes direct flights after 14 years
Direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi restart after 14 years, with a twice-weekly service by Biman Bangladesh Airlines signaling warming ties and boosted trade.
A flight from Dhaka logged a historic arrival at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on January 29, 2026, restoring non-stop air connectivity between Bangladesh and Pakistan after 14 years. The Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-341, coming from Dhaka, landed in the evening and was greeted with a traditional water salute, marking a new chapter in Pakistan-Bangladesh friendship through revived air links.
The two-country service will operate between Dhaka and Karachi twice a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays. The schedule has the outbound leg leaving Dhaka at 8 p.m. local time and arriving in Karachi at 11 p.m., with the return flight departing Karachi at 12 midnight and touching down in Dhaka at 4:20 a.m. A licensing window through March 30 will allow authorities to test the waters before longer-term permission is considered.
Officials highlighted that the move follows a period of growing bonhomie between Bangladesh and Pakistan, including recent discussions to restart direct flights as part of broader efforts to bolster trade and ties after years of strained relations. Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 and the evolving regional dynamic set the backdrop for this thaw, underscoring a desire for stronger people-to-people exchanges and economic linkages.
The restart is viewed as a potential catalyst for closer cooperation, with officials emphasizing the importance of reliable air connectivity for business, tourism, and cultural exchanges. If the service proves successful, it could pave the way for more frequent and longer-term air links in the near future.
