Dhaka: Following in the footsteps of Fly Jinnah, AirSial, another Pakistani airline, has been granted permission by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to commence direct flights connecting Bangladesh and Pakistan.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the CAAB chairman, Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan, confirmed the approval, stating that a letter has been dispatched to the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry regarding this development. In line with standard aviation procedures, AirSial is set to appoint a General Sales Agent (GSA) in Bangladesh and will apply for flight slots to initiate operations.
Officials have indicated that AirSial’s new service will not only facilitate direct travel between Bangladesh and Pakistan but will also offer Bangladeshi passengers transit options to a range of international destinations, particularly in the Middle East, through its established network.
AirSial, a private airline based in Sialkot, Pakistan, operates a fleet of six Airbus aircraft and began its operations in August 2015. This development follows the earlier approval in February for Fly Jinnah, another private Pakistani airline, to operate direct flights on the Karachi-Dhaka route.
Speaking to BSS prior to the approval, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Md. Iqbal Hussain, mentioned that AirSial could potentially commence its flights to Dhaka within two months, pending final approvals. However, he also noted that Fly Jinnah is currently in the process of expanding its fleet, which might influence timelines.
The recent approval marks a significant moment for Pakistani airlines, as the last state-owned Pakistani carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), ceased its operations on this route back in 2018.