Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to restart service to Japan after an absence of almost 17 years with a route to the country’s capital Tokyo.

Scheduled service from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) to Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) will commence on Sept. 1 with three flights per week. The airline intends to use Boeing 787-8 aircraft on the 3,073-mi. (2,670-nm) route.

The planned launch marks the restoration on nonstop flights between Bangladesh and Japan, ranked as the eighth-largest and 11th-largest counties in the world by population, respectively, for the first time since Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ last service to Japan operated in 2006.

A statement from NRT says the new route will improve passenger convenience and “contribute to the deepening of ties between the two countries and the further growth in economic activities.” O&D traffic between the two countries totaled about 78,000 two-way passengers in 2019, all of whom traveled indirectly.

In April, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met with Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Tokyo to discuss ways to enhance their bilateral relationship, including the launch of direct flights. The two countries established diplomatic relations 50 years ago and signed a partnership agreement in 2014.

Tokyo will become the 22nd international destination in Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ network once service begins, OAG Schedules Analyser data shows. The carrier operates a fleet of 20 aircraft, comprising six 737-800s, four 777-300ERs, four 787-8s, two 787-9s and four DeHavilland Canada Dash 8-400s.