(MENAFN- Bangladesh Monitor)
Dhaka: Many airlines are concerned about service disruption at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport as the airport will be closed from 12:00 am to 8:00 am every day from December 10 for six months.
This is due to the construction and expansion works of taxiways for the Third Terminal for which the runway will need to remain closed.
This eight-hour shutdown will make 12 international flights, operated by Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Saudia Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Malaysian Airlines, to reschedule, according to reports.
Reports further added that around 85-90 flights will have to depart and land within the 16-hour window, meaning the ground handling and other ancillary services provided by the airport authority will be severely hampered, claimed different airline operators.
'Passengers will have to suffer if the airport authorities do not increase ground-handling capabilities and the other facilities beforehand,' said a foreign airline official, according to a report.
A sufficient number of check-in counters, boarding bridges, security check-in counters, baggage loading and unloading facilities and other related facilities are required for the smooth operation of all flights within the 16-hour window, he claimed, added reports.
However, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) thinks the runway closure will not cause much disruption.
CAAB said they have already discussed the matter with the airline operators and the other stakeholders and have taken the necessary measures to prevent any disruption. The steps include increasing manpower for ground handling.
There would not be any flight delay or other disruption in flight operation due to the closure of the runway from December 10, said AHM Touhid-Ul Ahsan, Executive Director of HSIA, mentioned a report.
If an emergency landing is required during the closure of the runway from December 10, the airlines will have to use Osmani International Airport in Sylhet, he mentioned also.
Per day, HSIA sees 27 airlines operate 85 to 90 flights, carrying around 10,000 passengers to different destinations, the Exec Director noted.
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