141 Saudi-bound flights disrupted, 21,000 passengers affected

A total of 141 direct and transit flights between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have been disrupted due to restrictions on flight operations at Saudi airports, affecting 21,933 passengers.

Some of the flights have been cancelled, while others remain suspended.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) disclosed the information in a press release issued after 11:00pm on Friday (23 October).

According to CAAB, the disrupted flights include 66 direct and 75 transit flights.

Of the direct flights, 27 were operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 10 by US-Bangla Airlines, 19 by Saudia and 10 by Riyadh Air.

Among the transit services, 29 IndiGo flights, 14 Emirates flights, nine Qatar Airways flights, eight flydubai flights, seven SalamAir flights, seven Air India flights and one EgyptAir flight were affected.

Flight operations on the Dhaka-Riyadh route have been disrupted since 11 October following restrictions imposed at Saudi airports in the wake of attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militant group.

Against this backdrop, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has announced the suspension of its flights in three phases.

Under its latest decision, Biman's Dammam-bound flights have been cancelled until 25 October, while its Riyadh-bound flights will remain cancelled until 31 October.

The prolonged disruption has intensified the difficulties faced by passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia as well as those seeking to return to Bangladesh.