528 flights cancelled at HSIA since Middle East conflict began

Airlines operating from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport have cancelled a total of 528 international flights to Middle-Eastern destinations over the past 17 days following attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel on February 28.

The information was confirmed by Muhammad Kawsar Mahmud, assistant director (public relations) of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh.

Several countries in the region -- Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan -- temporarily closed their airspace due to the deteriorating regional security situation, disrupting international flight operations.

Flight cancellations began on February 28 with 23 flights and peaked on March 2 when 46 flights were cancelled. As of early hours of March 16, another 28 flights had been cancelled.

The affected airlines include Kuwait Airways with two flights, Air Arabia with eight flights from Sharjah, Gulf Air with two flights from Bahrain, Qatar Airways with four flights, Emirates with two flights, Jazeera Airways with four flights, Flydubai with four flights and US-Bangla Airlines with two flights.

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