Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) on air services, raising the number of approved weekly passenger flights between the two countries from 49 to 84. 

The agreement also allows for 21 weekly cargo flights, along with fifth freedom traffic rights, code-sharing, co-terminalisation and aircraft leasing arrangements, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).

In this connection, the CAAB chairman, Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq, briefed reporters at the authority's headquarters in Dhaka on Thursday, in the presence of all CAAB members and senior officials.

Siddiq said the new deal would allow designated airlines of Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia to operate up to 84 passenger flights a week between the two countries, up from the previous limit of 49 — an increase of 35 weekly flights that would help meet growing passenger demand.

He said Hajj and Umrah pilgrims from Bangladesh would be among the main beneficiaries, with the additional flights expected to ease passenger pressure, seat shortages, and operational complications during the Hajj season, allowing airlines greater capacity and flexibility to run more orderly and reliable pilgrim flights.

Around 4 million Bangladeshi expatriates living and working in Saudi Arabia would also benefit, Siddiq said, as more flights and seats would make travel easier for them, while increased competition among airlines could lead to more competitive fares for passengers.

The new agreement also expands opportunities for regional airports beyond Dhaka, allowing designated Saudi airlines to operate direct flights from Chattogram and Sylhet to Riyadh, Dammam, Madinah, and Jeddah—a move CAAB said would ease travel for passengers from different parts of the country and support the expansion of international operations at the Chattogram and Sylhet airports.

Siddiq described the expansion of cargo capacity as one of the deal's major achievements, noting that the agreement allows 21 cargo flights a week between the two countries, which would help Bangladeshi exports such as ready-made garments, fresh vegetables, and fruit reach the Saudi market more quickly.

Under 'fifth freedom traffic rights,' designated Bangladeshi airlines will also be able to operate cargo services onward from Saudi Arabia to destinations including Spain and Germany, which the CAAB said would help expand the international network of Bangladesh's air cargo sector and position the country as a regional cargo hub.

The agreement further provides for 'code-sharing,' under which designated airlines from both countries—subject to necessary approvals—may enter into commercial cooperation with airlines from their own country, the other party, or third countries.

It also includes 'co-terminalisation,' allowing a single flight to serve multiple destinations within the same country, and provisions for leased aircraft, including wet leases, giving airlines added flexibility to increase capacity during peak seasons.

The CAAB chairman said the new agreement was not limited to an increase in flight numbers alone but opened new possibilities for passenger transport, Hajj and Umrah management, expatriate connectivity, cargo transport, and business cooperation between the two countries.

He said the deal, building on the long-standing friendly relationship between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, would strengthen the foundation for aviation cooperation between the two countries and support Bangladesh's goal of becoming an effective regional aviation and cargo hub.