Twenty-eight flights were cancelled from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on March 16, 2026 after midnight as Middle Eastern countries continue airspace closures due to regional security crisis.

Kuwait Airways cancelled 2 flights while Air Arabia Sharjah led cancellations with 8 flights. Gulf Air Bahrain scrapped 2 flights, Qatar Airways cancelled 4 flights and Emirates Airlines dropped 2 flights from schedule.

Jazeera Airways Kuwait cancelled 4 flights while Flydubai removed 4 flights from operations. Bangladesh's US-Bangla Airlines cancelled 2 flights bound for Middle Eastern destinations.

Cancellations stem from ongoing airspace closures across Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan. These countries shut their airspace on February 28 due to deteriorating security situation in the region.

Today’s 28 cancellations bring total disrupted flights to 528 since crisis began 17 days ago. Flight cancellations have continued daily, severely impacting travel plans for thousands of Bangladeshi passengers including migrant workers, Umrah pilgrims and tourists.

Highest single-day cancellations occurred on March 2 with 46 flights scrapped. Daily cancellations have ranged from 23 to 46 flights throughout the crisis period.

Airlines are offering affected passengers rescheduling options and refunds. However, continued airspace restrictions mean alternative routing options remain limited for Middle East destinations.

Crisis hits Bangladesh's aviation sector during traditionally busy Eid and Umrah season when passenger numbers typically multiply. Industry experts warn disruptions will persist until regional security situation normalizes and affected countries reopen their airspace.

Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh continues monitoring situation and coordinating with airlines to manage passenger concerns.