18 flights were cancelled at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport toady, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt air travel. The total number of cancellations since February 28 has now reached 858.

The aviation disruption began after Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan temporarily closed their airspace due to security concerns. The impact has been severe on Dhaka’s airport, with daily cancellations persisting for over a month.

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) sources confirmed that the cancellations started on February 28 with 23 flights. The numbers fluctuated but remained consistently high throughout March. March 1 saw 40 cancellations, followed by 46 on March 2 and 39 on March 3. Daily figures have ranged between 20 and 46 flights ever since.

Monday’s cancelled flights included two Kuwait-bound flights, four Air Arabia flights on the Sharjah route, two Gulf Air flights to Bahrain, four Qatar Airways flights, two Emirates flights and four Jazeera Airways flights.

Aviation officials said uncertainty over flight schedules is likely to continue until the situation in the Middle East stabilises. Passengers have been advised to verify flight information before travelling to the airport.

The prolonged disruption has caused significant hardship for travellers, particularly Bangladeshi expatriates who rely on these routes for work and family visits. Many have faced extended delays or been forced to seek alternative travel arrangements.