Ever wondered why you're asked to put your phone on airplane mode during flights? It's a common request once the plane doors close and the flight attendants start their safety instructions. While it might be tough to disconnect, especially on longer flights, airplane mode is necessary. But what exactly is it, and why do airlines insist on it? Let's dive into the science behind this familiar practice and why it's still essential for your phone use during air travel. What is Airplane Mode? Airplane mode is a setting available on smartphones that disables all wireless communication features. When activated, it turns off the phone's ability to connect to cellular networks, Wi-Fi signals, and Bluetooth devices. This means that calls, text messages, and notifications will not be received or sent while airplane mode is active. The purpose of airplane mode is to prevent potential interference with aircraft communication systems during flight, making it a requirement for many airlines during the journey. Why Must Passengers Put Their Phones on Airplane Mode During Flights? Airplane mode is crucial during flights to prevent any potential interference with sensitive airplane systems. These systems, including communication and navigation systems, rely on radio frequencies emitted from the ground. However, cell phones and tablets also use these frequencies for various functions like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and data transmission. The problem arises when crosstalk or adjacent-channel interference occurs, where one radio receiver picks up transmissions from nearby frequencies, disrupting the intended signals. This interference can be compared to tuning into a radio station and hearing another station's transmission on a nearby frequency. Read more: Can Earthquakes Really be Predicted? Particularly during crucial moments like landing or emergencies, clear communication between the aircraft and ground control is vital. Airplane mode ensures that these communication lines remain open and interference-free. Additionally, with the advent of 5G technology, the risk of interference has increased, as signals from ground antennas and 5G devices might interfere with the airplane's radio altimeters, which gauge the distance from the ground during descent and landing. Therefore, using airplane mode helps ensure safe and uninterrupted communication during flights.

Two flights carrying passengers from two Middle-Eastern countries landed at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport of Kolkata in India instead of Dhaka due to dense fog last night. The flights started landing in Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka after 9:30 am this morning (January 14, 2024) when invisibility improved, said Group Captain Mohammad Kamrul Islam, executive director of the HSIA. Read more: Flyers on Indian flight stuck in Dhaka Airport for over 12 hours. Here’s why On January 4, thirteen flights that failed to land at Dhaka airport were diverted to Kolkata, Hyderabad, Sylhet, and Chattogram international airports.

Flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport were disrupted for eight and a half hours on Tuesday (January 02, 2024) due to dense fog. Six flights that failed to land at the airport were diverted to Sylhet and Chittagong international airports, Executive Director of Shahjalal Airport Group Captain Mohammad Kamrul Islam told UNB. Read: Reception Lounge set up at Dhaka Airport for int'l observers, journalists  He said flights could not operate normally from 12 am to 8:30 am due to fog, he said adding that flight operations resumed at 9am after the weather returned to normal. According to a Met office bulletin, moderate to thick fog may occur over the country during midnight to morning and it may continue till Wednesday noon at places over the country. Read: About 300 Indian travelers stuck in French airport in a human trafficking probe  Air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may disrupt due to thick fog, it said.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will start operating Dhaka-Rome flights from March next year, Biman MD and CEO Shafiul Azim said today (December 21, 2023). He was speaking at the ATJFB dialogue, organised by the Aviation and Tourism Journalist Forum of Bangladesh, at the Biman Training Centre in Dhaka. All Biman employees to get 5% allowance as ‘special incentive’ Mohammad Salahuddin, director (marketing) of Biman, said, "We discontinued the Dhaka-Rome flight after 2009. Now it will be resumed, for which GSA has been appointed, and ground-handling has been finalised.” “We can operate direct flights to Rome, Italy or via another country. We are studying it. It will take 9-10 hours for the direct flight to reach Rome,” he said. Biman commences flights on Dhaka-Chennai route For possible transition points, he mentioned Kuwait or Dubai. However, nothing is finalised, he said. ATJFB President and Special Correspondent of BSS, Md Tanzim Anwar, moderated the dialogue. ATJFB General Secretary and Bangla Vision Special Correspondent Ziaul Haque Sabuj delivered the welcome speech. London-bound Biman makes emergency landing in Sofia to save ailing passenger Senior officials of Biman and ATJFB members were present in the dialogue.

The launch of Biman's Dhaka-Narita (Tokyo) direct flight will enhance trade and relations between the two countries, Badal Chaklader, president of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (BCCIJ), has said. He said this while speaking at a reception programme organised by BCCIJ in Japan's Tokyo on Sunday (September 03, 2023) night. He also thanked the Bangladesh government and Biman Bangladesh Airlines for launching the direct flight. Read: After Narita (Tokyo), Biman eyeing flights to New York, Chennai, Los Angeles, Rome "We expect that the direct flights would not be discontinued like in the past. We want more Japanese investment in Bangladesh," the BCCIJ president said. “For boosting trade with Japan, initiatives should be taken to operate daily flights in phases. The quality of services offered by the airline should also be enhanced so that domestic and foreign passengers show more interest,” the BCCIJ president added. Business leaders said that Japanese investors were often not interested in going to Bangladesh due to lack of direct flights. It also took a long time for Bangladeshis to travel to and from Japan. Relations and trade between the two countries will reach a new height due to the direct Biman flights, they hoped. They also urged Biman authorities to transport dead bodies of Bangladeshi expatriates to the country free of cost. Business leaders also demanded harassment-free services at Dhaka airport. Read: Dhaka-Narita Tokyo direct flights launched  State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Md Mahbub Ali, said, “We have 50 years of relationship with Japan. This relationship will grow even more due to the direct flights to Japan. Biman resumed flights to Tokyo, Japan after 17 years and it will facilitate passengers as well as cargo transportation.”  “Besides, more Japanese businessmen will now come to Bangladesh and invest here as our country has great potential,” he added.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is launching its Dhaka-Narita (Tokyo) direct flight from September 1, 2023, Shafiul Azim, managing director and CEO of the national flag carrier, told UNB. The Biman CEO said that the inaugural flight will take off from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on September 1 at 11:45 pm local time and reach Narita International Airport in Japan on September 2 at 9:15 am local time. The flight, BG-377, from Narita International Airport to Dhaka will take off on September 2. Read: Dhaka city corporations grapple with persistent waterlogging problem on multiple fronts Azim said Biman flights from Dhaka to Narita will depart every Friday, Monday and Wednesday at 11:45 pm and from Narita to Dhaka, every Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday at 11 am.   Biman Bangladesh Airlines started selling tickets for the Dhaka-Narita (Tokyo) direct flights from July 25. The minimum one-way fare on the route is Tk 70,828 and return ticket price is Tk 1,11,656 per passenger. Read: Govt will decide on ground handling at Dhaka airport’s third terminal and Biman is ready: CEO Biman offered a discount on the occasion of the inauguration of direct flights on the Dhaka-Narita route. The special discount was on till August 15. At the time, the minimum one-way fare on Dhaka-Narita route was Tk 49,100 and return tickets were Tk 84,496 per passenger. Most of the opening flight tickets have already been sold. According to Biman, the number of Bangladeshis living in Japan is not significant. Japanese nationals engaged in various development projects in Bangladesh are primarily expected to be passengers on the route. Read: Market mismanagement behind the rise of egg price The Biman CEO said, “Very soon we are going to start a 24-hour call centre following the international system. Passengers will be able to get all the updated information on flights round the clock.” As part of the ‘Smart Bangladesh’ goal, automated baggage system will be introduced soon, the Biman Bangladesh Airlines CEO said. “Not even 1 kg of extra baggage will be allowed. The automated baggage system will be functional from September 1.”

Qatar Airways has closed its Dhaka office temporarily over coronavirus outbreak in the country and requested to book flight tickets online.