Bangladesh rejects Emirates airline’s permission to transport passengers to third countries

After two days of discussions, the bilateral aviation meeting between Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates ended without a major breakthrough.

CAAB spokesman Mohammad Sohel Kamruzzaman said on Tuesday that the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority had rejected a proposal to grant fifth aviation privileges to Emirates.

A fifth freedom flight transports passengers between two countries that are different from the home base of the airline operating the flight.

Kamruzaman said that 22 representatives from the UAE’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation and various airlines including Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia participated in the discussion.

Kamruzzaman said it is not feasible to allow an increase in the number of flights at the moment as Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport is building a third terminal.

However, it has been indicated to UAE representatives that the matter will be considered once the future capacity of the airport is expanded.

Kamruzaman also said that Bangladesh and Fujairah had signed an agreement that paved the way for future flight operations between Bangladesh and the emirate.