ISLAMABAD: Fly Jinnah, Pakistan’s low-cost airline, has received official approval from Bangladesh to operate direct flights between Karachi and Dhaka, marking a significant advancement in air connectivity between the two South Asian nations.
The approval, which was confirmed on Tuesday, follows an announcement by Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mohammad Iqbal Hussain, last week. He said that direct flights between the two countries were expected to commence within the coming months.
He had also revealed that cargo flights between Dhaka, Karachi and Lahore would also commence soon, further facilitating trade and business exchanges between the two countries.
According to a report from the Bangladeshi media outlet The Daily Star, the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Air Vice Marshal Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan, confirmed that Fly Jinnah’s application to operate direct flights had been approved.
Bhuiyan said, as quoted by The Daily Star, “They applied to us, and we have approved it.” He also noted that Fly Jinnah must now appoint a General Sales Agent (GSA) before proceeding to request flight slots and frequencies, a step he described as the next phase in the process.
Indian news agency ANI also reported that the establishment of the direct air link will follow the launch of a new direct shipping line between the ports of Chittagong and Karachi. This move is expected to further enhance economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
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In a statement quoted by ANI, Abdul Naser Khan, Additional Secretary at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, confirmed the approval and stated, “CAAB has approved Fly Jinnah’s proposal to operate direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan. We will soon sign an agreement to resume Dhaka-Karachi direct flights.”
The resumption of direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi is seen as a positive development in the context of improving bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Both the countries are deepening cooperation in trade and diplomatic relations, especially after a change in Bangladesh’s leadership.
The approval of Fly Jinnah’s flight operations is expected to boost business, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, helping bridge the gap between the two neighbouring countries.
