Flight suspensions continue in Dhaka as 26 More cancelled, total hits 557
Travelers at Shahjalal expressed frustration over prolonged uncertainty.
ATT Desk Report 
Twenty-six Dhaka flights cancelled Tuesday as Middle East crisis continues, taking total flight disruptions from February 28 to 557, CAAB sources said.
Several countries—including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan—have temporarily closed their airspace since February 28, directly affecting flight operations to and from Dhaka. The closures followed "Operation Epic Fury," the US-Israeli military strikes that began February 28, and subsequent Iranian retaliatory attacks that have rendered Middle Eastern airspace unpredictable.
Breakdown of Tuesday's cancellations
Among the 26 flights cancelled on Tuesday, two were bound for Kuwait. Air Arabia cancelled six flights, Gulf Air four, Qatar Airways four, Emirates two, Jazeera Airways four, and flydubai four. The Dubai, Doha, and Sharjah routes remain particularly affected, with airlines struggling to maintain regular schedules while prioritising passenger safety.
Cumulative impact
CAAB officials confirmed that flight disruptions have persisted over the past several weeks. Daily cancellations have fluctuated, with 23 flights 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, 32 on March 10, 27 on March 11, 28 on March 12, 25 on March 13, 24 on March 14, 23 on March 15, 28 on March 16, and 26 on March 17.
Passenger ordeal
Travelers at Shahjalal expressed frustration over prolonged uncertainty. "I've been waiting for days to fly to Dubai. Every day brings new cancellations with no clarity on when normalcy will return," said Mohammad Rafiq, a stranded businessman.
Airport authorities have set up help desks to assist affected passengers with rebooking, but many remain dissatisfied. A CAAB spokesperson advised travellers to check with their airlines before coming to the airport, noting that the situation remains fluid with no immediate end in sight.
