Biman Bangladesh To Start Dhaka-Karachi Flights This Month

NEW DELHI, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Biman Bangladesh Airlines will resume direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi on January 29, as Bangladesh and Pakistan restore direct air travel amid growing trade and diplomatic ties.

Biman will initially fly between the two largest cities of Bangladesh and Pakistan on Thursdays and Saturdays, according Bangladeshi media reports on Wednesday, citing an airline press release.

It will be the first direct Dhaka-Karachi service since 2012 and is expected to boost tourism and trade relations between the two countries.

Pakistani carriers Fly Jinnah and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) also plan to launch direct flights to Dhaka, following the start of direct shipping services between Karachi and Chittagong ports in November 2024.

Bangladesh and Pakistan have stepped up top-level official contacts since the 2024 mass uprising that toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration.

Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar made a landmark visit to Dhaka in August last year.

Bangladesh interim government Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has also received a number of visiting senior Pakistani officials.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad on Monday to offer condolences on the passing of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, while Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq travelled to Dhaka to attend her funeral on December 31.

-- BERNAMA