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Published : 19 May 2025, 09:21 PM
After Fly Jinnah, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has greenlighted another private Pakistani airline, AirSial, to operate direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi.
On Monday, CAAB Chairman Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan said that a formal order will be issued by Tuesday, after which the ministry will appoint a general sales agent (GSA) and apply for flight slots.
Once operational, AirSial flights will allow Bangladeshi passengers to travel to Pakistan and transit through the country to other international destinations.
The last Pakistani airline to fly direct routes to Bangladesh was the national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which ceased operations on the route in 2018 due to low booking rates and financial losses.
The prospect of renewed direct flights gained momentum following a shift in Dhaka-Islamabad relations after the fall of the Awami League government in August.
It was the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) that formally revived the proposal for direct flights.
During a meeting with Bangladesh’s Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin in Dhaka on Jan 12, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said: “Pakistani businesses are keen to invest and expand trade with Bangladesh. However, challenges such as visa complications and the lack of direct flights have created barriers.”
Later, CAAB responded by approving Fly Jinnah’s application for direct flights.
