Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia expand air connectivity under new agreement
The agreement is expected
to benefit nearly four million Bangladeshis living in Saudi Arabia by
increasing flight capacity and providing greater flexibility for airlines
operating between the two countries.
According to Bangladesh’s
delegation involved in the negotiations, the MoU also aims to support smoother
air connectivity during peak periods, including the annual Hajj season, when
demand for flights between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia rises significantly.
A key feature of the
agreement is the expanded opportunity for Saudi airlines to operate scheduled
services to Chattogram and Sylhet. Direct connections from Riyadh, Dammam,
Madinah and Jeddah to the two regional airports could help reduce pressure on
Dhaka and strengthen Bangladesh’s international aviation network outside the
capital.
The agreement also opens
the possibility of cargo operations connecting Dhaka with Saudi Arabia and
onward destinations in Europe. Officials expect the provision to create new
opportunities for the country’s growing air freight sector.
The MoU was signed
following negotiations involving a delegation led by the chairman of the Civil
Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmood
Siddiq. Bangladesh said the agreement reflects its broader efforts to
strengthen international connectivity and advance the aviation sector in line
with national interests.
