ME airspace shutdown leads to over 1,000 flight cancellations

Dhaka : A total of 1,060 flights to and from Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport have been cancelled in 44 days since February 28, when the US-Israel imposed war on Iran began, authorities said.

The escalating security situation in the Middle East has led to the cancellations following the closure of airspace by several countries in the region, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh said in a release.

The disruption began on February 28, after Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan suspended flight operations due to regional instability.

The closures have severely affected air connectivity between Dhaka and major Middle Eastern hubs, which serve as key destinations for Bangladeshi migrant workers and transit passengers.

According to data from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, the number of cancelled flights has risen steadily over the past six weeks.

In the first ten days following the crisis, 339 flights were grounded, followed by 275 cancellations between March 10 and March 19.

From March 20 to March 29, a further 226 flights were cancelled, while 160 flights were suspended between March 30 and April 8.

With 60 more flights cancelled between April 9 and April 12, the total number of suspended departures has reached 1,060.

The ongoing crisis continues to cause significant distress for passengers, with many airlines struggling to provide alternative routes or rescheduling options as the security situation in the Middle Eastern corridor remains volatile.