Bangladeshi airliners have been little affected by the closure of Pakistani airspace on the heels of escalating tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad over Kashmir, multiple sources told the Dhaka Tribune on Thursday.
The authorities of Pakistan closed its airspace completely on Wednesday.
Most international destinations of national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines are in the Middle East, while private carriers US-Bangla Airlines and Regent Airways operate flights to Doha and Muscat. Although Pakistani airspace falls in the way of flights to these destinations, it is rarely used even when available, according to Biman and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) officials.
“All of our Middle East-bound flights seldom use Pakistani airspace. They usually fly through India to cross the Arabian Ocean,” said a senior official of CAAB.
He added that Pakistani airspace was only used if adverse weather conditions did not allow safe passage through the Arabian Ocean route. “If this [adverse weather] happens during the closure, flights will have to undertake a longer route, meaning additional fuel cost and more time.”
The CAAB officials comments were echoed by a senior official and senior captain of Biman, the latter of whom regularly flies to the Middle East.
“Apart from one flight, we have not been affected by the closure, as all of our flights to the Middle East go through India and the Arabian Sea,” Shakil Meraj, general manager (Public Relations) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, told this correspondent.
“Only our flights to and from London are being affected,” he added.
The senior captain said: “Due to the closure, Biman’s flights to and from London are taking more time and consuming more fuel. Due to the extended flying time, Biman’s schedule may be affected.”