Middle East tension: 391 flights cancelled at Shahjalal Airport over crisis

A total of 391 flights have been cancelled at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport over the past 12 days due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

According to data from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, several countries—including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan—partially or fully closed their airspace starting February 28, disrupting international flight operations from Dhaka.

Authorities said 24 more flights were cancelled on Wednesday (March 11) as the restrictions continued to affect regional air travel.

CAAB data show that 23 flights were cancelled on February 28, followed by 40 on March 1, 46 on March 2, 39 on March 3, 28 on March 4, 36 on March 5, 34 on March 6, 28 on March 7, 28 on March 8, 33 on March 9 and 32 on March 10.

Among the flights cancelled on Wednesday were services operated by Kuwait Airways (2), Air Arabia (4), Gulf Air (2), Qatar Airways (4), Emirates (4), Jazeera Airways (4) and flydubai (4).

Airport officials said decisions on operating and cancelling flights are being taken depending on the airspace situation in the Middle East.

They said flight operations will gradually return to normal once the situation stabilises.