Narita Route Relaunch Delayed to July 27 as Japan Safety Audit Requires More Time

In a significant development for Bangladesh’s aviation sector, the government has announced that Biman Bangladesh Airlines will resume its long-awaited Dhaka–Narita–Dhaka service on July 27, instead of the previously announced June 30 target date.

The new schedule was officially disclosed on Monday during an emergency press briefing held at the Department of Information conference room in the Secretariat. The announcement was made by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam.

According to the minister, Biman’s Dhaka–Narita route had remained suspended since July 1, 2025. Following the formation of the current democratic government, efforts were initiated to restore direct air connectivity between Bangladesh and Japan in order to strengthen bilateral relations, boost trade and investment, and facilitate people-to-people exchanges.

Explaining the delay, Minister Afroza Khanam said all preparations on Bangladesh’s side had been progressing according to plan. However, Japan’s civil aviation authorities requested additional time to complete mandatory regulatory and safety procedures.

“We were working to launch the service by June 30. However, international flight operations require compliance with certain legal and regulatory formalities. The Japan Civil Aviation authorities need additional time to conduct their required safety audit and complete their procedural obligations. As a result, the launch date has been shifted to July 27,” she said.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashiduzzaman Millat, who also addressed the briefing, reiterated the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

He noted that while the government had earlier announced a June 30 relaunch target, the delay was entirely due to the Japanese side’s requirement for approximately 45 days to complete safety assessments.

“This postponement is not due to any shortcomings on our part. We were fully prepared. The delay stems solely from Japan Civil Aviation Bureau’s mandatory safety audit procedures,” he said.

Ticket Sales from June 20

The state minister also announced that ticket sales for the Dhaka–Narita route will officially begin on June 20.

From that date, passengers will be able to purchase tickets through Biman’s official website as well as international distribution channels and travel agencies.

Growing Demand from Bangladeshi Community in Japan

Addressing concerns regarding route viability and passenger demand, Rashiduzzaman Millat highlighted the growing Bangladeshi population in Japan.

According to him, more than 40,000 Bangladeshi students and workers currently reside in Japan, with the number continuing to increase.

He said the announcement of the route’s return has generated considerable enthusiasm among expatriate Bangladeshis, adding that even the Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh expressed satisfaction at the prospect of direct air connectivity between the two countries.

Route Was Becoming Profitable Before Closure

Responding to questions about whether the route had previously been loss-making, the state minister rejected that characterization.

“The route was not discontinued because of commercial losses. It was closed due to political decisions made in the past. While there were initial losses, the route later reached break-even and, during the final three to four months before suspension, it was operating profitably,” he said.

He further stated that Biman has conducted detailed commercial assessments to ensure sustainable profitability after the relaunch.

Initially, the airline will operate one weekly flight on the Dhaka–Narita route. Depending on passenger demand, the frequency may later be increased to two or three flights per week.

//DBTech/SH/EK/OR//