Biman Resumes Dhaka-Narita Direct Flights After Year-Long Suspension

Dhaka, July 27, 2026 — Biman Bangladesh Airlines has officially resumed direct flight services on the Dhaka-Narita (Japan) route after a suspension of more than a year, restoring a critical air link between Bangladesh and one of Asia's largest economies. The national flag carrier's flight BG 376 departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) for Japan at 2:25 AM on July 27, 2026, following a formal inauguration ceremony at the airport. ✈️

🇧🇩 The resumption marks the end of a year-long hiatus that began on July 1, 2025, when the route was suspended by the interim government headed by Prof Muhammad Yunus. The relaunch had been delayed due to regulatory procedures and operational requirements, but was fast-tracked after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government took office following the February 2026 national election.

🏛 Inauguration Ceremony at HSIA

🤝 Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam, MP, inaugurated the resumed service at a ceremony held at HSIA on the night of July 26-27. Speaking at the event, she expressed confidence that the route would remain operational permanently this time around.

✅ "Today's Dhaka-Narita flight is the result of everyone's collective efforts. I feel extremely delighted to be able to implement the Hon'ble Prime Minister's instructions," Afroza Khanam said at a meet-and-greet event prior to departure. "We hope the service will be profitable this time. Bookings for the return flight and subsequent flights have already been completed, along with the inaugural flight."

📊 The minister noted that the resumption has generated widespread enthusiasm among the approximately 45,000 Bangladeshi students, workers, and other migrants residing in Japan, who had been calling for the route to be restored since its suspension last year.

📜 Historical Context: A Route First Launched in 1980

🏛 The Dhaka-Narita route has a long and chequered history. Biman first launched the service in 1980 under the directive of then-President Ziaur Rahman, despite a shortage of aircraft at the time. The route was seen as a strategic move to strengthen Bangladesh-Japan bilateral relations and facilitate the growing flow of Bangladeshi workers and students to Japan.

⚠ However, citing low passenger numbers and persistent financial losses, Biman suspended the Dhaka-Narita service around 2006. The route remained dormant for nearly two decades before being restarted in 2023 as part of efforts to expand Biman's international network and cater to the growing Bangladeshi diaspora in Japan.

📅 The suspension was reinstated on July 1, 2025, by the interim government, citing commercial unviability and the need for fleet restructuring. Following the 13th parliamentary election and the formation of the BNP-led government, steps were taken to restart the service in response to demand from the Bangladeshi community in Japan.

👥 Serving the Bangladeshi Diaspora in Japan

🌏 State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat, MP, highlighted that the service caters to approximately 45,000 Bangladeshi expatriates, including students, workers, and other migrants residing in Japan. To support long-term operational continuity and growing demand, he confirmed that Airbus aircraft will be integrated into Biman's fleet alongside its existing Boeing planes.

💵 "Despite having a shortage of aircraft, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman launched the Dhaka-Narita route in 1980 to strengthen Bangladesh-Japan relations," Rashiduzzaman Millat said at the ceremony. "Today, under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's directive, we have reopened the service for passengers."

📊 The State Minister added that the government plans to expand Biman's fleet capacity to meet future demand and ensure the route remains operational on a sustainable basis. The integration of Airbus aircraft is part of a broader fleet modernisation plan aimed at enhancing Biman's competitiveness on international routes.

🤝 Strengthening Bangladesh-Japan Bilateral Ties

🇯🇵 The Bangladeshi government expressed expectations that restarting the direct air link will strengthen bilateral trade, investment, education, and people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and Japan, opening new avenues for economic cooperation between the two countries.

📊 Japan is one of Bangladesh's most important development partners, with significant investments in infrastructure projects (including the Metro Rail, Karnaphuli Underwater Expressway, and Matarbari deep-sea port), as well as a major source of Official Development Assistance (ODA). The resumption of direct flights is expected to:

• 💲 Boost bilateral trade — facilitating easier movement of business delegations and trade representatives
• 💼 Attract Japanese investment — supporting ongoing Japanese interest in Bangladesh's special economic zones
• 🎓 Facilitate student mobility — with Japan a growing destination for Bangladeshi students seeking higher education
• 🛢️ Support EPA implementation — complementing the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement signed in February 2026

🚢 A Strategic Route for Bangladesh's Trade Agenda

🌏 The Dhaka-Narita route assumes particular strategic significance in the context of Bangladesh's broader trade diversification agenda. With the readymade garment (RMG) sector seeking to reduce dependence on traditional Western markets, Japan has emerged as an increasingly important destination for Bangladeshi exports, particularly in the apparel, leather, and pharmaceuticals sectors.

📊 The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed between Bangladesh and Japan in February 2026 is expected to take effect after parliamentary ratification, providing duty-free or preferential access for many Bangladeshi products to the Japanese market. Direct air connectivity will complement this trade agreement by reducing transit time and logistics costs for high-value, time-sensitive exports.

💼 For the approximately 45,000 Bangladeshi expatriates in Japan, the direct flight also means reduced travel time and lower fares compared to the connecting flights through hubs like Bangkok, Singapore, or Hong Kong that they have had to rely on during the suspension period.

📈 Looking Ahead: Fleet Expansion and Route Sustainability

✈️ Biman's decision to integrate Airbus aircraft into its predominantly Boeing fleet reflects a broader strategy to right-size aircraft for different route profiles. Long-haul routes like Dhaka-Narita typically require wide-body aircraft with sufficient range and capacity, and the addition of Airbus wide-bodies is expected to give Biman greater operational flexibility.

🏛 Minister Afroza Khanam's assurance that the route "would not be suspended again" reflects the government's commitment to maintaining the Dhaka-Narita connection as a permanent fixture of Biman's international network. With bookings reportedly strong for the inaugural flight, return flights, and subsequent departures, early commercial indicators are positive.

🌏 Following the inauguration ceremony, ministers cut a ceremonial ribbon and greeted Japan-bound passengers prior to the flight's departure. The event was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB). Details of the ceremony were released in an official statement by Tariqul Islam, Information and Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

📊 For Bangladesh's export-oriented economy, the resumption of direct Dhaka-Narita flights is more than a passenger convenience — it is a strategic enabler of deeper trade, investment, and diplomatic engagement with one of Asia's largest economies and a long-standing development partner.