Shahjalal Sees 102 Flights Cancelled in Three Days

Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has faced unprecedented disruption over the past three days, with a total of 102 flights cancelled due to heightened security risks stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Since the afternoon of 28 February, the civil aviation authorities of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan have temporarily closed their airspace. This precautionary measure has directly affected flights to and from Dhaka, forcing airlines to suspend numerous services for passenger safety.

According to airport sources, the cancellations are distributed over three consecutive days as follows: 23 flights on 28 February, 40 flights on 1 March, and 39 flights on Monday, 2 March. The disruption has primarily impacted routes to Gulf and Middle Eastern destinations, though flights to other regions have resumed normal operations.

The Monday cancellations involved several major carriers: Qatar Airways cancelled four flights, Emirates Airlines five, Gulf Air (Bahrain) two, Fly Dubai (UAE) four, Kuwait Airways two, Air Arabia (Sharjah, UAE) eight, Biman Bangladesh Airlines four, and US-Bangla Airlines ten flights.

Flight Cancellations Overview (28 Feb – 2 Mar 2026)

Airport officials have confirmed that, aside from routes to Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Dubai, flights to other destinations have resumed as normal. Passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates before travelling.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has urged passengers to remain patient and follow official notifications, highlighting that safety remains the paramount concern amid the volatile geopolitical situation in the Middle East.

With tensions showing no immediate sign of easing, airlines and airport authorities are closely monitoring developments and adjusting schedules accordingly, emphasising that flight operations may continue to be affected in the coming days.