Bangladesh faced massive flight disruptions as 182 international flights were cancelled at Dhaka and Chattogram airports over four days following outbreak of Middle East conflict.

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka saw 147 flight cancellations while Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram recorded 35 cancellations. Airport authorities confirmed figures in separate statements on Tuesday.

Fresh conflict erupted on 28th February after Israel and United States launched attacks on Iran. Tehran retaliated with missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and American installations across various Middle Eastern nations.

Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan closed their airspace on 28th February, severely disrupting flight operations between Bangladesh and Middle East countries.

Dhaka airport recorded 23 cancellations on Saturday, 40 on Sunday and 46 on Monday. Tuesday alone saw 38 scheduled flights cancelled, including four flights each of Qatar Airways, Emirates, Gulf Air and flydubai. Kuwait Airways cancelled two flights while Jazeera Airways scrapped four. Air Arabia cancelled 12 flights and US-Bangla Airlines cancelled four.

Chattogram airport faced 35 international flight cancellations over four-day period, with seven flights cancelled on Tuesday morning. Cancelled flights included one Biman Bangladesh Airlines service, two US-Bangla Airlines flights and four Air Arabia operations.

However, some flights managed to operate despite crisis. SalamAir flight from Muscat landed in Chattogram on Tuesday morning and departed for Muscat with passengers. Similarly, Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight arriving from Madinah landed at Shah Amanat before continuing to Dhaka.

Disruptions severely impact thousands of Bangladeshi migrant workers, students and business travellers dependent on Middle East routes. Bangladesh has significant diaspora population in affected Gulf countries.