Biman’s Bangladesh–Pakistan direct flights set to resume after 14-year hiatus
January 8, 2026
Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national flag carrier of Bangladesh, has confirmed it will resume direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi, starting on 29 January 2026.
Direct scheduled flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan will end more than a decade without nonstop connectivity between the two South Asian nations.
Pakistan’s aviation regulator has granted Biman approval to use designated airspace and operational slots at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi.
Return of Biman’s Dhaka–Karachi service
The relaunch marks the first regular direct service on the route since 2012, when flights were discontinued amid a long suspension of civil aviation ties. Since then, travellers between Dhaka and Karachi have relied on indirect routings via Gulf hubs such as Dubai and Doha.
The new service will operate twice-weekly on Thursdays and Saturdays. Initial services will be offered on a trial basis until late March 2026, with potential expansion subject to passenger demand and operational feasibility.
The resumption reflects warming ties between Dhaka and Islamabad. Regular cargo shipping between Karachi and Bangladesh’s Chittagong port resumed in late 2024, and commercial and cultural exchanges have increased.
Biman suspends Dhaka–Manchester route due to aircraft constraints
While celebrating the return of direct Pakistan flights, Biman Bangladesh Airlines is adjusting other parts of its international network due to aircraft availability constraints.
The airline has announced the temporary suspension of its Dhaka–Manchester–Dhaka route, effective 1 February 2026, citing a shortage of aircraft and competing operational priorities. The carrier also needs to allocate capacity for upcoming Hajj operations and accommodate long-term maintenance requirements across its fleet.
Biman’s board of directors cited operational efficiency and fleet utilisation concerns in its decision, noting that existing aircraft shortages limit the airline’s ability to sustain certain long-haul services while meeting peak seasonal demand. Passengers on the Manchester route are being offered support through alternative flights via Dhaka–London–Dhaka, revised travel dates, or ticket refunds, in accordance with standard airline policies.
Biman’s fleet constraints dampen network expansion plans
The Manchester suspension highlights Biman’s struggles to expand its fleet in recent years.
Biman operates a fleet of 19 aircraft. It includes four Boeing 737 narrowbody aircraft and five De Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8s for medium- and short-haul routes, and four Boeing 777s and six Boeing 787 Dreamliners for long-haul services. Biman’s Dhaka-Manchester flights usually operate on the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
The airline’s efforts to lease additional aircraft have received a limited response from lessors, and its fleet size has not grown in line with rising passenger demand.
“We attempted three to four times over the past few years to lease aircraft but received no response from the lessors,” Biman’s spokesperson, Boshra Islam, told The Financial Express.
Biman hopes to expand its network to new international destinations, including Jakarta, Colombo, and Sydney, but its plans are hampered by the limited fleet.
Boeing comes out ahead in Biman aircraft bid
Both Airbus and Boeing have made repeated proposals to the airline for new aircraft, but indecision about whether to acquire aircraft from Europe or the United States has prevented the airline from expanding its fleet over the past five years.
However, in December, the Biman Board of Directors finally approved the acquisition of 14 Boeing aircraft, comprising four 737 MAXs and ten 787s.
While the airline’s resumption of the Dhaka-Karachi service is undoubtedly welcome for its customers, Biman will need to complete its new aircraft order to sustain growing travel demand.
Featured Image: Biman Bangladesh Airlines
