Bangladesh eases constraints on domestic flights

Bangladesh has eased constraints on all domestic flights from Sunday onwards due to the country's civil aviation authority has issued updated guidelines after the Covid-19 situation showed signs of abating.

In line with the updated guidelines, which also comply with the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) guidelines, domestic flights operators are actually allowed to carry passengers in every seats except the previous several rows, on condition that airlines provide face shields to passengers, Xinhua news flash agency.

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman told journalists that the decision was taken following developing demands of passengers on domestic routes.

He nevertheless, said that operators need to preserve at least several consecutive rows from leading on any side (left/right) in economy course and at least one row in business category vacant for the use of Covid-19 suspected passengers.

The CAAB chief said operators may also provide face guards to all passengers occupying either on the aisle seat for two-seat rows or centre seats in three-seat rows.

CAAB in its rules had earlier said operators need to keep at least 25 per cent seats vacant on each airline flight to ensure proper social distancing.

In an effort to support the spread of Covid-19 in the united states, CAAB had suspended all domestic flights on March 21.

On June 1, it permitted procedure of most domestic flights maintaining public distancing and next health guidelines.

Flight operations on foreign routes from Bangladesh also resumed from June 16 in a limited scale.

The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh totalled to over 336,000, while fatalities stood at 4,702.