PAKISTAN, BANGLADESH RESUME DIRECT AIR SERVICES AFTER 14 YEARS

NEW DELHI, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- Pakistan and Bangladesh are celebrating the resumption of direct air services after a gap of 14 years as a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight landed at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.

"The first direct flight from Dhaka landed in Karachi late last night, marking the resumption of air connectivity between Pakistan and Bangladesh after a hiatus of 14 years. Advancing this long-awaited objective was a key focus of my engagements during my visit to Bangladesh in August 2025," Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday.

The restoration of direct air links will enhance youth, academic, cultural, business, and people-to-people exchanges, including family ties, Dar said in a post on X.

Flight BG-341 was seen off at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Thursday by Bangladesh interim government advisor to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Sheikh Bashir Uddin, High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh Imran Haider, and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh chief Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq at an event presided over by Biman chief executive officer Mohammad Shafiqur Rahman.

The service will be initially twice a week.

The inaugural flight carried 150 passengers, according to Bangladeshi media reports.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which has plans to launch Bangladesh services, welcomed Biman's arrival.

"A long-awaited return – PIA welcomes our brothers from Bangladesh with pride and warmth. Two nations reconnecting hearts through the skies," it said in a post on X.

Earlier travel between the two countries required using inconvenient indirect routes, mostly via the Gulf region.

-- BERNAMA