JAL keen to assess Dhaka-Narita direct flight viability
The development comes shortly after Biman Bangladesh Airlines suspended its Dhaka-Narita flights on 1 July
Japan Airlines (JAL) has expressed keen interest in assessing the feasibility of operating direct flights on the Dhaka-Narita route to cater to the rising demand driven by expanding trade, business, and people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and Japan.
The interest was conveyed during a meeting between Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Md Daud Ali and JAL Vice-President Abe Motohisa in Tokyo, according to a message received today (14 July).
During the meeting, Ambassador Daud Ali underscored the growing movement of people and rising trade volume between the two countries, urging JAL to launch direct flights on the Tokyo-Dhaka route to facilitate enhanced connectivity and support economic engagements.
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The JAL Vice-President informed that currently, around 70,000 passengers travel annually on the Tokyo-Dhaka route through connecting flights, reflecting strong commercial viability for initiating direct services.
The development comes shortly after Biman Bangladesh Airlines suspended its Dhaka-Narita flights on 1 July, nearly a year after its much-anticipated re-launch in September 2023.
The national flag carrier cited the ongoing Hajj season, aircraft shortages, and financial non-viability as reasons behind the suspension.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo is actively pursuing efforts to re-establish direct air connectivity, considering its significance in facilitating business, tourism, and people-to-people exchange between the two nations, officials said.
