Dhaka airport sees 391 flight cancellations amid Middle East airspace closures

A total of 391 international flights have been cancelled at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport since February 28 due to the closure of airspace in several Middle Eastern countries amid security concerns in the region.

Of the total flights, 24 were cancelled today, authorities at HSIA said in a release.

The flights include two of Kuwait Airways to Kuwait, four flights of Air Arabia to Sharjah, two flights of Gulf Air to Bahrain, four flights of Qatar Airways, four flights of Emirates, four flights of Jazeera Airways to Kuwait, and four flights of flydubai to the United Arab Emirates.

Airport authorities said Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan closed their airspace following the security situation in the Middle East on February 28, disrupting flight operations from Dhaka.

As a result, flights of several airlines operating to these destinations were cancelled over the past several days.

A total of 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.