141 Saudi-Bound Flights Disrupted, Affecting 21,000 Passengers
The disruptions affected 29 IndiGo flights, 14 Emirates flights, nine Qatar Airways flights, eight flydubai flights and seven SalamAir flights.
A total of 141 direct and transit flights connecting Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have been disrupted due to restrictions on flight operations at Saudi airports, affecting 21,933 passengers.
Some flights have been cancelled, while others remain suspended. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) disclosed the figures in a press release issued after 11pm on Friday (23 October).
According to CAAB, the affected services comprise 66 direct flights and 75 transit flights. Among the direct flights, 27 were operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 10 by US-Bangla Airlines, 19 by Saudia and 10 by Riyadh Air.
The disruptions also affected transit services operated by several international airlines, including 29 IndiGo flights, 14 Emirates flights, nine Qatar Airways flights, eight flydubai flights, seven SalamAir flights, seven Air India flights and one EgyptAir flight.
Flight operations on the Dhaka-Riyadh route have faced disruptions since 11 October, following restrictions imposed at Saudi airports after attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militant group.
Amid the ongoing disruptions, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has announced flight suspensions in three phases.
Under its latest decision, Biman's flights to Dammam have been cancelled until 25 October, while services to Riyadh will remain suspended until 31 October.
The prolonged disruption has added to the difficulties faced by passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia, as well as those trying to return to Bangladesh.
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