The temporary closure of airspace in several Middle East countries due to the war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States has also affected Bangladesh’s aviation routes.
Airport authorities reported that since the beginning of the war, 210 flights bound for the Middle East have been cancelled from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. These flights were scheduled to depart over six days starting Saturday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
On Thursday alone, 34 flights were cancelled, including four from Qatar Airways, four from Kuwait Airways, four from Jazeera Airways, ten from Air Arabia (Sharjah, UAE), four from Emirates, two from US-Bangla Airlines, two from Gulf Air (Bahrain), and four from Flydubai (UAE).
Of them, 23 flights were cancelled on Saturday while 40 on Sunday, 46 on Monday, 39 on Tuesday, and 28 on Wednesday. The affected airlines included Qatar Airways, Emirates, Gulf Air, Flydubai, Kuwait Airways, Jazeera Airways, Air Arabia, SalamAir, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and US-Bangla Airlines.
Authorities said that while some flights have been rescheduled, uncertainty remains, and schedules may continue to change until the situation stabilises. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates before traveling.
The disruption follows Israel’s surprise attack on Iran early Saturday morning, which triggered the war. In response, Iran and several other countries including Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan temporarily closed their airspace to prevent further deterioration of regional security.
This has directly impacted flights operating between South Asia and the Middle East, creating major uncertainty for travelers from Dhaka to international destinations.
