189 Riyadh-Dammam Flights Cancelled, Affecting 23,000 Passengers

A total of 189 flights operating from Dhaka to Saudi Arabia's Riyadh and Dammam have been cancelled since 10 October, disrupting travel plans for 23,274 passengers, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).

CAAB sources said 112 of the cancelled flights were direct services, while the remaining 77 were transit flights. Among the direct services, Biman Bangladesh Airlines cancelled 55 flights, US-Bangla Airlines 10, Saudia 22 and Riyadh Air 25.

The cancelled transit services included 30 flights operated by IndiGo, 14 by Emirates, nine by Qatar Airways, eight by flydubai, seven by SalamAir, eight by Air India and one by EgyptAir.

Passengers travelling on these transit flights were scheduled to reach Riyadh and Dammam through different connecting destinations. However, they were left stranded in Dhaka as airlines failed to accommodate them after the corresponding connecting flights from transit countries were cancelled.

The disruptions came following attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels, which led to the temporary closure of Riyadh airport. Dammam also came under attack during the same period.

Following the developments, Biman Bangladesh Airlines initially suspended its flights to Riyadh and Dammam until 17 October. The suspension was later extended.