Over 100 flights cancelled
Staff Reporter :
A total of 102 domestic and international flights have been cancelled at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport over the past three days as airspace closures across parts of the Middle East continue following attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel.
The sudden disruption has left thousands of migrant workers and international passengers stranded, triggering uncertainty and mounting frustration among travellers scheduled to fly to destinations across the Gulf and beyond.
Many passengers have reported spending long hours at the airport with little information, while others face missed work, delayed family reunions, and mounting travel expenses.
Flight cancellations began on Saturday, 28 February, after Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan temporarily closed their airspace due to escalating security risks.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), 23 flights were cancelled on Saturday, followed by 40 on Sunday – the highest number in a single day – and 39 more on Monday.
Among the affected carriers, state-owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines cancelled 20 flights, while private airline US-Bangla Airlines suspended 10 services.
Several major Middle Eastern carriers were also impacted, including Qatar Airways, Emirates, Gulf Air, Flydubai and Air Arabia, which cancelled multiple flights over the three-day period.
Specifically, on Sunday alone, Qatar Airways cancelled four flights, Emirates five, Gulf Air two, Flydubai four, Kuwait Airways two, Air Arabia eight, Biman four, and US-Bangla 10.
Bosra Islam, General Manager of Public Relations at Biman, advised passengers to arrive at the airport at least four hours before their scheduled departure times due to heightened security checks and operational uncertainties.
Currently, flights have resumed to most routes except for Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai, where airspace restrictions remain in place.
Airport authorities said they are closely monitoring the evolving situation and coordinating with airlines to resume normal operations once the regional airspace is reopened.
Bangladesh maintains a large expatriate workforce in the Middle East, making flight connectivity to the region particularly critical.
Officials warned that further cancellations could not be ruled out if the geopolitical situation deteriorates, leaving passengers anxious and uncertain about their travel plans.
