PIA Airline and Biman Seal Strategic Cargo Pact

Great news for businesses and exporters across Pakistan and Bangladesh! The national carrier, PIA airline, and Biman Bangladesh Airlines have just signed a powerful, collaborative deal that is set to revolutionize how goods move between our two countries and the rest of the world.

Forget the old headaches of complex logistics and slow transit times. This new agreement, which kicks off on December 1, is a huge leap forward. It creates a seamless "sky bridge" that promises to make trade faster, cheaper, and far more reliable for everyone involved.

The secret to this partnership lies in a clever use of geography. Instead of complicated direct routes, the carriers will use three bustling Saudi Arabian cities—Jeddah, Medina, and Riyadh—as central transfer points. These cities are already major destinations for PIA flights, making them perfect, high-traffic hubs for quick cargo transfers. This new arranges comes after already created easiest online flight booking operations by both airlines for general customers.

PIA Flights Take on New Significance

This deal is about much more than just signing papers; it’s about utilizing the power of existing infrastructure. The dedicated PIA airline team is thrilled to integrate this new system, which means the valuable belly-hold space on regular PIA flights—those planes we see every day—will now be maximized for cargo.

This is especially critical for PIA flights from Pakistan carrying our most important exports, such as vibrant textiles, life-saving pharmaceuticals, and fresh agricultural produce.

Feature	Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)	Biman Bangladesh Airlines
Fleet Size (Active/Airworthy)	Approximately 18-19 aircraft	Approximately 19 aircraft
Wide-Body Aircraft	Boeing 777-200ER/LR, 777-300ER	Boeing 787-8/9 Dreamliner, 777-300ER
Narrow-Body Aircraft	Airbus A320-200	Boeing 737-800
Regional Aircraft	ATR 42-500, ATR 72-500	De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400
Fleet Distinction	Historically notable operator of the Boeing 777 family; one 777 holds the record for the longest commercial jet flight.	Advertises having the "Youngest fleet in South Asia" due to recent deliveries of 787 Dreamliners.
Primary Hub	Jinnah International Airport, Karachi (KHI)	Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka (DAC)
Major Facilities	Precision Engineering Complex (MRO/Maintenance Capability), Ground Handling, Awards Plus (FPP).	Biman Flight Catering Centre, Biman Ground Handling (ISAGO certified), Bangladesh Airlines Training Center.
Long-Haul Routes	North America (historically/via code-share), UK, Europe (resuming post-ban), Middle East.	UK, Middle East, Southeast Asia (long-haul routes are mostly served by the modern 787/777 fleet).
In-Flight Experience	Standard IFE systems, typically on wide-body aircraft.	Modern IFE systems installed on Boeing 787s and 777s (e.g., Panasonic Ex3, Thales Top Series) offering Audio/Video On Demand (AVOD).

By working together, PIA and Biman are cutting out the middlemen and reducing lengthy layovers. Cargo that lands on a PIA flight in Saudi Arabia can quickly be transferred to Biman’s network, and vice-versa. This kind of synergy means Pakistani goods can reach markets in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia faster than before.

Ultimately, this is a winning situation for the economies of both Pakistan and Bangladesh. It’s an exciting demonstration of regional cooperation, proving that when our national flag carriers work together, they can deliver high-quality, cost-effective solutions that help business owners thrive.

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