Air Sial looking to operate flights between Pakistan, Bangladesh
Following in the footsteps of Fly
Jinnah, another Pakistani private airline, Air Sial, has applied for permission
to operate direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh, according to Bangladesh's Foreign
Secretary Jashim Uddin.
Speaking to reporters on April 17,
Uddin confirmed that the application is currently under review. Meanwhile, Md
Iqbal Hussain, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, stated that Air Sial
could begin operations within two months of receiving approval.
Read More Pakistan’s
Fly Jinnah gets Bangladesh approval to launch Dhaka flights
Fly Jinnah, which has also expressed interest in launching flights to Dhaka, is awaiting the expansion of its fleet before commencing services.
Air Sial, founded in August 2015, is
a licensed carrier offering both domestic and international passenger and cargo
services. The airline’s entry into the Bangladesh market is expected to boost
tourism and enhance people-to-people connectivity between the two countries.
Efforts to restore direct air links
have been ongoing. On September 2, 2023, Pakistan's High Commissioner to
Bangladesh, Ahmad Maroof, met with Bangladesh’s interim home affairs adviser
and emphasized the importance of resuming flights to strengthen bilateral
relations and trade.
Read More Direct flights between Bangladesh, Pakistan to resume after 5-year break
The last direct service between Karachi and Dhaka was operated by PIA, which suspended the route in 2018 due to poor passenger turnout and financial losses. PIA’s operations had also been marred by controversy, including allegations of smuggling counterfeit currency in 2015, which led to the deportation of its Dhaka station manager and multiple raids on the airline’s local office.
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers
of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has also advocated for restoring air
connectivity, highlighting visa issues and the absence of direct flights as key
barriers to expanding trade and business ties with Bangladesh.
Source: The Business Standard