3 airlines cancel 60 domestic flights due to squally weather

Three airlines--Biman Bangladesh, US-Bangla and NovoAir--cancelled sixty flights on six domestic routes due to the inclement weather induced by the cyclone Sitrang.

Tahera Khondoker, general manager, public relations, Biman Bangladesh Airlines said, the national flag carrier was forced to cancel 10 flights—four on Dhaka-Cox's Bazar-Dhaka route and six flights on Dhaka-Chattogram-Dhaka route scheduled for today and tomorrow.

Apart from the cancellation, Biman rescheduled four flights—one each on Sharjah, Aub Dhabi, Dubai and Muscat route due to Sitrang, Tahera added.

Kamrul Islam, general manager, public relations of US-Bangla Airlines said, the airlines cancelled 28 flights scheduled between today to 12:00pm tomorrow on Cox's Bazar, Chattogram and Barishal route.

Sources said, NovoAir cancelled 22 flights scheduled to fly on Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Saidpur, Sylhet and Rajshahi routes.

Earlier, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh said, three airports in Bangladesh's coastal belt--Chattogram, Cox's Bazar and Barishal--will remain closed due to inclement weather induced by cyclone Sitrang.

Caab has decided to shut down all operation of these three airports from 3:00 pm today to 12:00pm tomorrow, according to a CAAB press release.

The Caab will review its decision after observing the weather situation, said the release.