On January 29, Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG341 set a renewed precedent as the first aircraft to fly directly from Bangladesh to Pakistan in over 14 years. In commemoration, the ground crew at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport welcomed the arriving plane with a twin water cannon salute.
From now on, the Bangladeshi airline will operate a twice-weekly service from Dhaka to Karachi. Previously, travelers between the countries had to secure a connecting flight through a third country—most often Sri Lanka, Qatar, and the UAE. Since a Bangladeshi carrier operates the flights, it circumvents India’s ban on Pakistani civilian aircraft using its airspace.
The immediate benefits of the direct flights include reduced travel times. Where flights via a connection could take up to 14 hours, the direct flight is a mere 3–4 hours. Direct flight tickets are also substantially cheaper than the connecting options.
The new direct flight option also encourages stronger economic ties through trade and tourism. Both countries have substantial diaspora populations from the other owing to their shared history, and poor bilateral relations have inconvenienced travelers for over a decade.
The direct flights come amidst an ongoing warming of relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh. The former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, suspended flights to Pakistan in 2012 as part of her wider pro-India policy. Her resignation in August 2024 had a decisive impact in restoring Bangladeshi relations, and by November of that same year, Pakistan and Bangladesh had already established the first direct maritime shipping route, greatly streamlining mutual trade.
Foreign minister Ishaq Dar, who personally negotiated the aerial breakthrough, expressed his hopes that it would “strengthen regional cooperation and connectivity,” alongside fostering mutually beneficial cultural and economic exchanges.
