Rakib Ahmed

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has officially resumed its direct Dhaka-Narita-Dhaka flight service after a suspension of more than a year, restoring Bangladesh’s only non-stop air connection with Japan and marking a significant step toward strengthening bilateral relations, trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The inaugural flight departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in the early hours of Monday, where Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam formally launched the service. The resumption comes amid growing demand from Bangladeshi expatriates, students and business travelers who regularly commute between Bangladesh and Japan.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Minister Afroza Khanam expressed confidence that the route would remain operational in the long term.

“There is no question of suspending this route again in the future. We hope the route will be profitable this time,” she said.

The minister noted that passenger response had been highly encouraging, with strong bookings recorded not only for the inaugural flight but also for its return journey and subsequent scheduled services. She attributed the positive demand to the growing Bangladeshi community in Japan and increasing economic ties between the two nations.

According to the minister, restoring direct air connectivity is expected to further enhance Bangladesh-Japan relations while creating new opportunities for trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the government had prioritized the restoration of the route after considering the needs of nearly 45,000 Bangladeshis currently living in Japan, including students, professionals, workers and other expatriates.

He emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the service by expanding Biman’s fleet in line with future passenger demand.

“To ensure that the service never has to be suspended again, we will consider future demand and add not only Boeing aircraft but also Airbus aircraft to the fleet,” he said.

Millat also recalled the historical significance of the Dhaka-Narita route, noting that direct air connectivity between  was first established in 1980 under the leadership of the late President Ziaur Rahman despite limited aviation resources at the time.

Following the formal inauguration, the minister and state minister exchanged greetings with passengers travelling to Japan before officially launching the service by cutting a ceremonial ribbon.

The inaugural Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, BG376, departed HSIA for Narita International Airport at 2:25 a.m.

The national flag carrier had suspended the Dhaka-Narita route on July 1, 2025, citing a shortage of aircraft, rising operational expenses and commercial challenges. The suspension temporarily ended Bangladesh’s only direct passenger air service to Japan.

Following the formation of the current government, Biman was instructed to restore the route as part of broader efforts to strengthen economic cooperation and deepen people-to-people connectivity between Bangladesh and Japan.

Initially, Biman will operate one weekly flight on the route using its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. Airline officials said the frequency of flights will gradually increase depending on passenger demand and the availability of aircraft.

The airline is also pursuing a strategic codeshare partnership with Japan Airlines (JAL) and Air Canada, a move that could significantly expand travel options for Bangladeshi passengers. Under the proposed arrangement, Narita would serve as a major transit hub, enabling travelers from Dhaka to connect seamlessly to destinations across Canada, the United States and other international markets through partner airlines.

Industry observers believe the proposed codeshare agreements could improve Biman’s international competitiveness while making long-haul travel more convenient for passengers by reducing transit complexities.

The Dhaka-Narita route has experienced a turbulent history in recent years. Biman first reinstated direct flights in September 2023 after a 17-year hiatus, only for the service to be suspended again less than two years later due to operational and commercial constraints.

With the latest relaunch backed by strong government support, growing passenger demand and plans for expanded international partnerships, officials are optimistic that the route will become commercially viable and play an increasingly important role in strengthening Bangladesh’s connectivity with Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific and North American regions.