Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia Sign Air Connectivity Milestone

Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark diplomatic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to significantly expand air connectivity and bilateral cooperation. Announcing the agreement at a press conference at the CAAB headquarters, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md. Mustafa Mahmud Siddique stated that the weekly passenger flight limit has been increased from 49 to 84.

This expansion will directly benefit nearly 4 million Bangladeshi expatriates living in Saudi Arabia as well as millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. The 35 additional weekly flights are expected to ease travel, reduce costs through increased airline competition, and alleviate seasonal seat shortages. Furthermore, operations will now extend beyond Dhaka to include regional airports in Chattogram and Sylhet, offering direct routes to Riyadh, Dammam, Medina, and Jeddah.

In addition to passenger transport, the MoU introduces 21 weekly cargo flights to boost exports of ready-made garments and perishable goods. It also incorporates advanced aviation provisions- such as fifth-freedom traffic rights allowing Bangladeshi carriers to operate cargo flights to destinations like Spain and Germany via Saudi Arabia- alongside code-sharing, co-terminalization, and aircraft leasing options to establish Bangladesh as a key regional aviation hub.