Pakistani carrier AirSial gets CAAB approval to operate direct flights

After Fly Jinnah, another Pakistani carrier, AirSial, received approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to operate direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan.

"We gave clearance to AirSial to operate direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan. We have sent a letter to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism in this regard," CAAB chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan said.

As per standard procedure, the airline will now appoint a General Sales Agent (GSA) in Bangladesh and apply for flight slots accordingly.

Officials said that not only will AirSial connect Bangladesh and Pakistan, but it will also offer Bangladeshi passengers transit options to various international destinations through its network, especially to Middle Eastern countries.

AirSial, a private airline with six Airbuses, based at Sialkot in Pakistan, commenced operations in August 2015.

In February, CAAB approved Pakistan's private airline, Fly Jinnah, to operate direct flights on the Karachi-Dhaka route.

Pakistani flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) discontinued its flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan in 2018.