Summary
- Air India flew to Dhaka on August 6 after canceling its evening service from Delhi a day before.
- Indigo and Vistara also canceled flights but are likely to resume operations.
- Due to the political situation in Bangladesh, Indian airlines are prioritizing the safety of passengers and crew.
The political unrest in India’s neighboring country, Bangladesh, has also temporarily affected flight operations between the two countries. Major airlines, such as Air India, Indigo, and Vistara, canceled some of their recent flights to Dhaka but are now ready to resume operations.
Air India operates Dhaka flight
With the political situation in Bangladesh still evolving, Indian airlines recently canceled their Dhaka flights but are now bringing them back.
canceled its evening flight between Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) on August 5 but operated it a day later.
Photo: Nicolas Economou | Shutterstock
The airline released a statement saying that it would also waive any rescheduling charges if customers wish to make adjustments to Dhaka flights from August 4 to 7. It said,
“Air India will operate its evening flights AI237/238 on the Delhi-Dhaka-Delhi sector on 6 August 2024. In addition, due to the prevailing situation in Dhaka, Air India is offering a one-time waiver on rescheduling to customers, with confirmed bookings on any Air India flight to and from Dhaka between 4th and 7th August 2024, if they desire to do so. The tickets would have to be booked on or prior to 5th August. We would like to reiterate that at Air India, the safety of our customers and crew remains top priority.”
Other airlines are likely to resume flights, too
Air India wasn’t the only airline temporarily canceling its Dhaka flight. IndiGo offers daily flights to the city from Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai and twice daily from Kolkata. However, all of its flights to the city on August 6 were canceled.
Vistara also operates Dhaka flights daily from Mumbai and thrice weekly from Delhi and also canceled its services on Tuesday. However, there are reports that the two carriers could resume services from August 7.
Photo: BoeingMan777 | Shutterstock
Apart from Indian carriers, several Bangladesh-based airlines, including Biman Bangladesh Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines, also operate daily flights between the two countries. According to Cirium, an aviation analyst company, there are more than 1,000 return flights scheduled between India and Bangladesh in August.
Political unrest in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is witnessing severe political unrest, which led to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaving the country. There were several nationwide protests related to job quotas, and authorities are now trying to restore some order to the country.
Hundreds of people have reportedly lost their lives in riots and demonstrations in Bangladesh, which is why Indian airlines are also monitoring the situation carefully to keep its passengers and crew members safe.
India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is also in touch with the authorities in Bangladesh and recently said at the Upper House of the Indian Parliament,
“In the last 24 hours, we have also been in regular touch with the authorities in Dhaka. This is the situation as of now. I seek the understanding and support of the House in regard to sensitive issues regarding an important neighbour on which there has always been a strong national consensus.”
Hopefully, those looking to travel between the two countries will not face any more flight disruptions.
