With airlines resuming limited operations after two days of disruption, anxious passengers returned to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport yesterday for updates on when they will be able to depart.
Flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Doha remained suspended, with airport officials reporting around 90 cancellations from Dhaka and Chattogram since Saturday.
They said the disruptions, triggered by a deteriorating security situation in the Middle East, have left thousands of outbound passengers in limbo.
Many feared that missing their scheduled arrival would create complications with employers, while others worried about returning to work in a war zone.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said suspended Middle East-bound flights would be rescheduled, with measures in place to ensure passengers receive adequate notice.
Speaking to reporters at HSIA, he said some planned rotations of Biman Bangladesh Airlines had been kept on hold. “We have resumed some operations today [yesterday]. Flight schedules are being adjusted in consultation with the relevant authorities.”
He added that an inter-ministerial coordination team, involving the foreign minister and the expatriates’ welfare minister, was overseeing arrangements to ensure passengers do not suffer due to the disruptions.
The state minister further said rescheduled flights had been finalised and that arrangements were made to operate the previously suspended flights by tomorrow and transport affected passengers. “However, if the situation in the Middle East escalates or is prolonged, further steps will be taken through consultations.”
He said the rescheduling was being done so that passengers, including those travelling from remote areas, would have sufficient time to reach the airport. He urged passengers to contact their travel agencies or airlines before heading to the airport.
Millat also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was personally monitoring the situation and issuing instructions. “Passenger care is being prioritised, including arrangements for iftar.”
Meanwhile, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury yesterday said food and accommodation had been arranged for 850 passengers of cancelled flights.
Airport officials said that so far at least 40 flights departed Dhaka for various destinations, including Middle East, until 10:00pm yesterday, while 40 flights arrived from different destinations.
AIRLINES UPDATE SCHEDULES
Biman Bangladesh Airlines said that yesterday (March 1), all of its Middle East-bound flights would depart on schedule except those to Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. The airline also requested passengers to arrive at the airport at least four hours before their scheduled departure time.
Biman spokesperson and General Manager (public relations) Bosra Islam said a Saudi Arabia-bound flight (BG339), which was suspended at 1:15am on Saturday night, will leave from Dhaka for Riyadh at 1:00pm today.
At 4:35pm yesterday, Biman flight BG135 departed from Chattogram for Jeddah carrying 419 passengers.
Meanwhile, Salam Air flight OV 403 departed from Oman’s Muscat for Chattogram at 5:50pm, local time (3:50pm BD time). It landed in the port city later around 10:47pm.
On Saturday, 20 international flights were cancelled from Shah Amanat International Airport, according to airport officials.
US-Bangla Airlines spokesperson Kamrul Islam said the airline operated its scheduled flights to Jeddah, Riyadh, and Muscat yesterday but temporarily suspended flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah in the UAE and to Qatar’s Doha, considering the situation in the Middle East.
He added that US-Bangla would contact passengers as soon as flights to the UAE and Qatar become operational.
For flight-related information, he requested passengers dial 13605 or 01777777800-806.
FLIGHTS CANCELLED
HSIA authorities said that on Saturday, amid security concerns, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan closed their airspace, triggering the cancellation of the flights from Dhaka and Chattogram.
Emirates cancelled one flight to the UAE, Gulf Air cancelled one to Bahrain, flydubai cancelled one to the UAE, Air Arabia cancelled three to the UAE, US-Bangla cancelled six, and Biman cancelled 11 flights to different destinations.
Later, 40 flights were cancelled on different Middle East routes. Jazeera Airways cancelled two flights to Kuwait, Emirates cancelled five to the UAE, Gulf Air cancelled two to Bahrain, flydubai cancelled four to the UAE, Qatar Airways cancelled two to Qatar, SalamAir cancelled two to Oman, Air Arabia cancelled eight to the UAE, Kuwait Airways cancelled two to Kuwait, US-Bangla cancelled four, and Biman cancelled nine.
With no update on the reopening of airspace, at least 11 flights were also cancelled yesterday afternoon, according to airport officials. Qatar Airways cancelled four flights, Emirates cancelled five, and Gulf Air cancelled two flights.
PASSENGERS LEFT WAITING
Md Kawsar, 26, from Feni’s Parshuram, said he was travelling back to Saudi Arabia but does not know what fate is waiting for him.
He said his family was in two minds after watching reports about the situation, but he felt he had no option. He came to Bangladesh on a month-long leave and now had to return. “I asked my company what I should do. They said the situation was manageable, and that I should return if possible.”
On the other hand, Mohon Bhuiya, 50, who came to the airport from Cumilla’s Chouddagram with relatives, said he was travelling to Dubai, but his flight scheduled at 8:05am on Saturday was cancelled. “I came to the airport around 3:00am but was informed of the cancellation around 6:00am. I was then told to leave.”
Golam Noor, a resident of Brahmanbaria’s Nasirnagar, returned from Jeddah on three months’ leave. He went to HSIA at 3:00pm for a flight scheduled for 8:45pm on Saturday and learned that flights were not operating and was asked to leave.
Noor said he tried again yesterday, as he must reach Jeddah since his visa will expire in two days. “I spoke to airlines authorities and my workplace, who told me to arrive within the stipulated time because they are not sure if they can extend my visa.”
