Dhaka:Biman Bangladesh Airlines has announced that it will double its weekly flights between Dhaka and Narita, Japan, starting October 29. This decision coincides with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's official visit to Japan, as confirmed by a senior airline official.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the increased frequency will see flights on the Dhaka-Narita-Dhaka route rise from one to two flights per week. The additional service will operate on Mondays and Thursdays, enhancing direct air connectivity between Bangladesh and Japan.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to travel to Japan on Biman's regular commercial flight for a four-day official visit beginning October 26. He will return on October 29 aboard the newly introduced Thursday flight from Narita. This move comes nearly three months after Biman resumed its direct Dhaka-Narita-Dhaka service on July 27, following a suspension of more than a year.
Initially, Biman relaunched the route with one weekly flight using a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, with plans to increase frequencies based on passenger demand, commercial performance, and aircraft availability. The resumption of direct flights received a positive response from passengers, notably the Bangladeshi community in Japan, estimated to be over 40,000 strong.
The route is significant for expanding bilateral trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. Biman is exploring potential codeshare arrangements with Japan Airlines and Air Canada to establish Narita as a transit gateway for Bangladeshi passengers traveling to North America and other regions in Asia-Pacific.
The Dhaka-Narita route was originally relaunched in September 2023, after a 17-year hiatus, but was discontinued on July 1, 2025, due to aircraft shortages and operational costs. However, the current BNP government has worked to restore the service as part of efforts to enhance Bangladesh-Japan economic and aviation cooperation. The introduction of a second weekly flight aims to offer greater travel flexibility and support the route's commercial sustainability.
Prime Minister Rahman's visit to Japan from October 26 to 29, at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, will include high-level bilateral talks to explore enhanced cooperation in various sectors including trade, investment, and infrastructure.