AirSial gets nod to operate direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh
Pakistan’s private carrier AirSial
has been granted approval by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB)
to operate direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan, marking a
significant development in bilateral air connectivity.
The announcement was made by CAAB
Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan, who confirmed that the
authority had officially cleared AirSial to begin operations and had notified
the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.
“We have granted clearance to AirSial
to operate direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan,” Bhuiyan stated. “A
formal letter has been sent to the ministry for necessary coordination.”
As part of the next steps, AirSial
will appoint a General Sales Agent (GSA) in Bangladesh and apply for airport
slot allocations in preparation for launch.
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Officials noted that in addition to
providing direct connectivity between Dhaka and Pakistani cities, AirSial plans
to offer transit options for Bangladeshi passengers to international
destinations, particularly in the Middle East, leveraging its existing regional
network.
Headquartered in Sialkot, AirSial
currently operates a fleet of six aircraft and began flight operations in August
2015. The airline is now poised to become the second Pakistani private carrier
to serve Bangladesh, following Fly Jinnah, which was approved by CAAB in February
to operate on the Karachi–Dhaka route.
The move comes amid growing interest
in restoring and expanding aviation links between the two countries, which saw
a halt in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) services in 2018. Speaking
earlier to the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Bangladesh's High
Commissioner to Pakistan Md. Iqbal Hussain indicated that AirSial could
potentially launch operations within two months of approval.
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Fly Jinnah, meanwhile, is currently
focused on fleet expansion ahead of its planned service launch.
The revival of air links between
Pakistan and Bangladesh is expected to boost trade, tourism, and
people-to-people exchanges between the two South Asian nations.
Source:
The Business Standard