KARACHI: Pakistan and Bangladesh on Thursday resumed direct air connectivity after a 14-year suspension, as a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight landed at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, marking a major step toward strengthening bilateral ties.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori welcomed passengers arriving on the inaugural flight, describing the restoration of air links as a positive development for people-to-people relations, trade and cooperation between the two countries. He said closer engagement would help both nations move forward and expand economic and cultural collaboration.
According to flight-tracking data, Biman Airlines flight BG341 departed Dhaka in the evening and arrived in Karachi after a three-hour journey. The Pakistan High Commission in Bangladesh termed the fully booked inaugural flight a “significant milestone” in enhancing connectivity and bilateral engagement.
Airport authorities and the Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that special arrangements were made to facilitate the historic landing.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines said the Karachi-Dhaka route will now operate twice weekly — the first regular direct service since 2012 — aimed at boosting business travel, tourism and family reunions.
Passengers previously had to travel via Gulf transit hubs such as Dubai and Doha.
Pakistan and Bangladesh, once a single country before separating in 1971, have seen improving trade and cultural exchanges in recent months, including renewed cargo shipping and growing people-to-people contact.