Dhaka-Karachi Direct Flight Tickets Sell Out Within Hours

Tickets for Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ newly announced Karachi–Dhaka direct flights sold out within just hours of going on sale this week, reflecting strong passenger demand for the long-awaited non-stop route.

The national carrier confirmed on Thursday that it will restart direct flights from January 29, operating the route twice a week. Regular non-stop air travel between Karachi and Dhaka has been suspended since 2012, forcing passengers to rely on connecting flights via Gulf hubs such as Dubai and Doha.

Biman manager Bosra Islam told AFP that the relaunch aims to strengthen connectivity and ease travel for business travellers, tourists, and families. In a statement, the airline said the direct service would significantly reduce travel time and improve people-to-people contact between Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The rapid sell-out comes amid improving bilateral engagement between the two countries. Cargo shipping between Karachi and Chittagong resumed in November 2024, and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider previously expressed hope that direct flights would resume during discussions with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

Diplomatic exchanges have also increased in recent months, including visits by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka in August 2025 and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in December.

Officials say the restoration of direct flights marks an important step toward normalising travel, trade, and diplomatic relations between Dhaka and Islamabad after years of strained ties.