CAAB relaxes seat restrictions for KSA bound flights till Oct 24

Dhaka: The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has relaxed seating restrictions for KSA bound flights from Bangladesh until October 24.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines are two of the carriers that operate passenger flights to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The decision was taken to facilitate the carrying of Bangladeshi expatriates to various destinations in the kingdom, including Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh.

The CAAB decision on October 4 temporary lifts directives previously issued on September 27. According to the September 27 circular on travel guidelines for international flights, no more than 260 passengers may be seated on wide-body twin-aisle aircraft and no more than 140 on narrow-body single-aisle aircraft.

The circular also said, “Vacant seats shall include at least the last row of Economy Class and minimum one seat of Business Class (unless exempted by special consideration) dedicated for any suspected COVID-19 positive passenger.”

The restrictions came into effect from October 1.

Although the seating restrictions will not apply for Biman and Saudi Arabian airlines flights to Saudi Arabia until October 24, effective measures will be taken to ensure the health and safety of passengers, CAAB added in the revised circular.