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Published : 15 Jun 2026, 01:29 PM
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has planned to restore its Dhaka–Narita service by Jul 27, bringing the Japan route back into operation.
The announcement was made on Monday at the Secretariat’s Information Department conference room by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam.
The national carrier had launched the route on Sept 1, 2023, before suspending operations on Jul 1, 2025, citing Hajj flights pressure, aircraft shortage and commercial considerations.
The minister said that ever since taking office, the authorities have been working to propel Biman forward, restore order to its services, and ensure a comfortable environment for expatriates arriving at Bangladeshi airports.
She added that the government is aiming to bring back the Dhaka-Narita-Dhaka flight services which had been suspended from Jul 1 last year.
Japan's civil aviation authorities have certain responsibilities and need time to carry out security checks and inspections, she said, adding that they had sought 45 days to complete the process.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said that ticket sales will open on Jun 20, making them available across all distribution channels including the Biman website, confirming the definitive Jul 27 departure date.
He announced that the route will kick off with one weekly flight.
According to him, more than 40,000 Bangladeshi students and workers currently reside in Japan, a figure that is poised to grow steadily.
"When we announced the flight, Bangladeshis living in Japan were thrilled that a Bangladeshi aircraft is coming. Even Japan's ambassador to Dhaka was delighted that he would be able to take a direct flight," he said.
Asked whether the commercial feasibility of the route had been reassessed before its relaunch, Millat said the Narita flight had actually been suspended for political reasons.
He said the route had initially run at a loss, then broken even, before turning a profit every three to four months, only for the flight to be shut down right around that time.
"It's quite surprising that no previous government, leaving aside the ‘fascist’ regime, ever asked why a profitable flight should be shut down. Yet that is exactly what happened," he added.
"In any case, we are putting those issues behind us. Our calculations have been made with a view to ensuring sustained profitability going forward," Millat said.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kaizer Sohail Ahmed and Deputy Managing Director Syed Moin Uddin Ahmed were also present at the event.
