CAAB to resume international flights from June 16

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh today decided to resume regular flights on international routes on a limited scale from June 16, after around three months of suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

CAAB in a press release said flights will be operated following health rules and guidelines.

"Due to the prevailing situation, Biman Bangladesh Airlines will be able to fly on the Dhaka-UK-Dhaka route and Qatar Airways will be able to carry only transit passengers on the Doha-Dhaka-Doha route," said CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman.

The government earlier resumed regular passenger flight operations on three domestic routes -- Chattogram, Sylhet and Saidpur -- on a limited scale from June 1.

The government on March 16 suspended regular flight operations on all domestic and international routes except for China to contain the spread of Covid-19 until June 15.

However, cargo, special air ambulance, relief carrying flights and emergency landing aircraft remained out of this purview.

CAAB earlier prepared a guideline for airlines with instructions for how to run flights following all health guidelines, including social distancing.

According to the document, all airlines will have to keep at least 30 to 25 percent seats vacant on each flight to ensure social distancing by keeping a gap of at least a seat between two passengers, unless they are from the same family.

Additionally, front or last row seats must remain vacant on each flight for carrying passengers suspected of contracting coronavirus.

During check-in, passengers' body temperature will be measured.