Flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka were severely disrupted due to dense fog from midnight to 9:00 am on Monday (February 3).

Three international flights bound for Dhaka were diverted to Kolkata International Airport after failing to land amid poor visibility. 

According to airport authorities, two Kuwait Airways flights from Kuwait City and a Salam Air flight from Muscat, Oman, were redirected to Kolkata before safely returning to Dhaka after 9:00 am.

Around 16 more flights faced delays in landing, including Biman Bangladesh Airlines flights from Dubai, Muscat, Rome, and Jeddah. Flights from other international carriers such as Emirates Airlines (Dubai), Gulf Air (Bahrain), US-Bangla Airlines (Dubai, Doha, Sharjah, Jeddah, and Singapore), and Druk Air (Paro) were also affected.

Airport Executive Director Group Captain Mohammad Kamrul Islam confirmed that flight operations have since returned to normal. 

However, the backlog of delayed arrivals and departures has led to congestion on the runway, he added.

The Meteorological Department reported that dense fog has been increasing across the country since early January, warning that further disruptions to air traffic are likely.

According to the aviation industry concerned, these delays are significantly increasing operational costs. Prolonged flight times due to diversions result in higher fuel consumption, while airlines also incur additional expenses by accommodating stranded passengers in hotels, they added.

BDST: 1200 HRS, JAN 03, 2025
SMS