According to the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan, Iqbal Hussain Khan, Mahan Air will be launching three weekly flights from Dhaka to Karachi. Furthermore, other Pakistani private airlines will also receive operating authority from the relevant government agencies that regulate air transportation between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) hosted this announcement at an event. As part of this announcement, several measures will facilitate the travel process between the two countries. Specifically, an improved and expedited visa process will allow for travel under a unified recommendation of both LCCI and the Honorary Consulate of Bangladesh located in the city of Lahore; the visa processing time is expected to range from three to four days for business-related visas.”
In addition to Mahan Air, there are other options for both price-sensitive travelers and business travelers to Bangladesh: Fly Jinnah and AirSial were approved by Bangladeshi aviation authorities to offer direct services. The addition of Fly Jinnah and AirSial will give travelers more options in the same corridor as Mahan Air, thus providing more reasonably priced flights and increased frequencies.
The restart of these routes might represent a cautious improvement in the nearly ten years of tense relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh due to diplomatic issues and various operational challenges faced by the main airlines of both countries. Many may view the restoration of direct flights as both a convenience and a diplomatic message.
The selection of Mahan Air as a bridge carrier creates an intriguing geopolitical context surrounding the story. Iran’s Mahan Air, a privately held airline with a wide-ranging network throughout Europe and much of Asia, has drawn significant attention internationally, particularly regarding sanctions and periodic restrictions associated with its alleged relationships with various institutions affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Despite such attention, Mahan’s commercial reach and intent to provide service capacity for new routes present an opportunity to develop the frequency or rhythm required for establishing a new scheduled service.
The significance of this partnership goes beyond aviation. Historical trade relationships have historically fostered more robust trade partnerships between Pakistan and Bangladesh, including many people-to-people linkages. With more direct and easier access through air travel, there are opportunities to shorten supply chains and support travel for delegations of individuals operating in the textiles and clothing industry. In addition to supporting the continued growth of such industries, increased air travel access will assist in connecting the enormous diaspora communities of Pakistanis in Bangladesh and Bangladeshis in Pakistan. Trade analysts have noted that even small increases in frequency can stimulate trade missions, cultural exchanges, and tour package development that were once prohibitively difficult due to logistics.
Route revenue from freight will rely on load factors, bilateral aviation agreements, and the speed with which carriers can develop competitive pricing, frequency, and schedules. For people travelling from Pakistan to the US, the most significant short-term benefits of returning to regularly scheduled services between both countries will be reduced transit stops and shorter travel times in business-class seats. For exporters and trade organizations, the announcement regarding visa facilitation in Lahore should allow for a new passport to be delivered and used by companies in the same way as before 9/11.
As December approaches, individuals and companies will look for announcements regarding new ticket sales, exact flight schedules, and regulatory approval from the aviation agencies. In the event of significant growth in these connections and the success of the initial services operated between Pakistan and the US, the service could open a consistent flow of flights back to both countries.
