Airspace closures cancel 102 flights in 3 days at HSIA
Airspace in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan was temporarily closed on 28 February amid regional security concerns, directly affecting flights to and from Dhaka
ATT Correspondent 
Temporary airspace closures across the Middle East have disrupted operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, leading to the cancellation of 102 flights over three days since the afternoon of 28 February.
Airspace in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan was temporarily closed on 28 February amid regional security concerns, directly affecting flights to and from Dhaka. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh confirmed that several airlines operating Middle Eastern routes were affected.
On Monday (2 March), 39 flights were cancelled, following 23 cancellations on 28 February and 40 on 1 March. Both foreign and Bangladeshi airlines operating to Middle Eastern destinations were impacted.
Monday’s cancellations included four services by Qatar Airways, five by Emirates, two by Gulf Air and four by Flydubai. Kuwait Airways cancelled two flights, while Air Arabia suspended eight services from Sharjah.
Bangladeshi carriers were also hit, with Biman Bangladesh Airlines cancelling four flights and US-Bangla Airlines suspending 10 services. Airlines have been rescheduling flights and arranging assistance for stranded passengers.
Flight operations have resumed on routes other than those serving Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai. However, uncertainty remains as several Middle Eastern countries continue to enforce airspace restrictions pending further security assessments.
Bangladesh’s aviation sector relies heavily on links with the Middle East, with thousands of migrant workers, business travellers and tourists using these routes each day. A large number of Bangladeshi expatriates are employed across Gulf countries, making the cancellations particularly disruptive.
Airlines are attempting to arrange alternative travel options for affected passengers, although choices remain limited while major Gulf hubs are closed. Industry sources estimate that hundreds of Bangladeshi passengers are still stranded at different airports.
CAAB officials said they are closely monitoring developments and coordinating with international aviation authorities. Airlines have advised passengers to check their flight status before travelling to the airport.
The regional tensions that led to the airspace closures show no immediate sign of easing. Aviation experts warn that further cancellations are likely if restrictions remain in place in the coming days.
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