India’s neighbours on the east and west are progressing towards healthier ties and how! Just earlier this month, Pakistan granted permission to Bangladesh’s national carrier Biman Airways to operate direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi on a trial basis. Now, both the countries have restored direct air connectivity after over a decade.
In a significant diplomatic and economic signal, Bangladesh and Pakistan on Thursday (January 29, 2026) restored direct air connectivity after a big 14-year gap, underscoring the rapid warming of bilateral ties between the two South Asian neighbours after years of estrangement.
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Dhaka landed in Karachi, marking a milestone moment that officials on both sides described as the opening of a “new chapter” in relations. Flight BG-341 of Bangladesh’s national carrier touched down at Jinnah International Airport on Thursday evening, becoming the first non-stop commercial flight from Dhaka to Karachi since 2010.
Pakistan-Bangladesh direct flights: Why is the flight resumption so big?
The aircraft was greeted with a traditional water salute, a ceremonial gesture typically reserved for landmark aviation events. “A new chapter in Pakistan–Bangladesh friendship, air connectivity restored after 14 years,” the Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) said in a statement.
The revival of direct flights comes amid visible political and diplomatic thaw between Dhaka and Islamabad, especially over the past few weeks.
Relations began showing renewed momentum after former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted following massive student-led protests in August 2024, a political shift that opened the door to recalibrating foreign ties, including with Pakistan.
How often will Dhaka–Karachi flights operate?
Pakistan Airport Authority stated that the flights will operate twice a week — Thursdays and Saturdays, marking “a new chapter in Pak-Bangla brotherhood!” The airline has been given license until March 30 to test the waters before a long-term permission is given to the airlines, PTI reported citing sources.
The flight will depart Dhaka at 8 pm local time and arrive in Karachi at 11 pm. The return flight will depart Karachi at midnight and arrive in Dhaka at 4:20 am.
What do Pakistan-Bangladesh governments hope to gain?
Direct air connectivity is seen as a key enabler of trade, business travel, people-to-people exchanges and cultural ties. Officials said both governments have been discussing the resumption of flights since last year, viewing aviation links as a confidence-building step after decades of strained relations rooted in history.
Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan in 1971, and ties have remained politically sensitive ever since.
Plans to restart direct flights were first formally announced in August last year, during the visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka. The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has already cleared Biman to operate on the Dhaka–Karachi route, use designated air corridors within Pakistani airspace.
Pakistan-Bangladesh celebrating a new chapter after decades of distance?
While historical wounds remain deep, the return of direct flights after 14 years is being seen as a concrete step toward normalisation, reflecting how recent political shifts and pragmatic diplomacy are reshaping South Asian equations. For now, the Dhaka–Karachi route stands as the most visible sign yet that Bangladesh and Pakistan are cautiously but steadily drawing closer once again.
Of late, there have been several high-level engagements between the top leaders of both the countries. Last week, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke over the phone with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Touhid Hossain. During the call, they reviewed relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh, and agreed to work towards closer ties in several areas.