Dhaka-Karachi direct flight resumes today

Bangla Press Desk:  Biman Bangladesh Airlines is going to resume direct flights on the Dhaka-Karachi route after a gap of 14 years.

The non-stop service will officially begin on Thursday (29 January), with flights operating twice a week on Thursdays and Saturdays.The introduction of direct flights is expected to significantly reduce both travel time and costs for passengers, with fares dropping by at least Tk30,000 compared with previous routes.

Until now, travellers had to rely on Middle Eastern transit hubs, resulting in longer journey times and higher expenses.

The 1,471-mile route will be operated using a 162-seat Boeing 737 aircraft, with the journey expected to take around three hours.Bosra Islam, General Manager (Public Relations) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, said, all tickets for the inaugural flight had already been sold, while more than 80 per cent of seats on the second flight had also been booked.

The direct service would offer faster, more comfortable and hassle-free travel without the need for transit stops, she added.

Passengers have welcomed the resumption of direct flights, saying it would strengthen people-to-people contact and create new opportunities in trade, tourism and business between the two countries.

Aviation expert and The Bangladesh Monitor editor Kazi Wahidul Alam said the route would also open up significant prospects for cargo transport and help deepen social, economic and political ties.

The Dhaka–Karachi route was suspended in 2012 due to security concerns. With the new service, passengers will be able to travel on a return ticket for as little as Tk51,000, representing a reduction of between Tk30,000 and Tk70,000 compared with previous fares.

BP/SP