Pakistan and Bangladesh resume direct air connectivity on 29 January 2026

Key facts

• Pakistan and Bangladesh resumed direct air connectivity on 29 January 2026 after a 14-year suspension.
• Biman Bangladesh Airlines operated the inaugural flight, BG341, from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka to Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.
• Direct flights between the two countries had been suspended since 2012, previously requiring travel via Gulf hubs such as Dubai and Doha.
• The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) welcomed the inaugural aircraft with a traditional water cannon salute at Karachi.
• The resumption follows diplomatic discussions between Bangladesh interim leader Muhammad Yunus and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
• Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate the Dhaka–Karachi route twice-weekly to promote trade, tourism, and cultural ties.
• The two nations are geographically separated by approximately 1,500 km of Indian territory.
• Bilateral cooperation also included the resumption of cargo shipping between Karachi and Chittagong in November 2024.