Introduction
If you are travelling to or from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, there is a trend of increased disruption. Whether it is fog, a fire at the airport, or severe weather, flights to and from Dhaka are experiencing increased delays, diversions, and cancellations. In this article, we will detail the major causes for these disruptions, recent examples around these causes, and what you should know as you plan travel to and from Dhaka.
Major Causes of Travel Disruption
1. Fog
Dhaka has recently experienced extreme fog in the early mornings that has greatly impacted visibility. In one instance, on February 3, 2025, six international flights were diverted to Sylhet and Kolkata because they were unable to land safely. Flight disruptions then cause delays for other flights arriving and departing from Dhaka during that time as well.
2. Fire
On October 18, 2025, there was a fire in the cargo area of Dhaka Airport. For several hours, flight operations were delayed or diverted, and there were flight cancellations as well.
3. Extreme Weather
In May 2024, Cyclone Remal caused the cancellation of at least 10 international flights from Dhaka. Severe weather causes delays or cancellations to both landing and departing flights.
Reliability & On-Time Performance
Specifically, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Flight BG 388 (Dhaka→Bangkok) had a 68% on-time performance between April and May 2025 and an average delay of ~ 24 minutes.
Another route, BG 366, had a 71% on-time performance; however, it had a much larger average delay of greater than 50 minutes.
Tips for Travelers
Try to avoid early morning flights if you can, as delays are most common during fog.
Check your airline and airport for live alerts about your flight.
When booking connecting flights, consider to allow some buffer time when you are booking — delays and diversions from Dhaka can all cause other parts of your trip to be delayed.
Be flexible, especially when travelling in cyclone season or with adverse weather warnings.
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