Disruptions affect 103 Saudi-bound flights

Operations at various airports in Saudi Arabia have disrupted 103 flights operating between Bangladesh and KSA on direct and transit routes. Some flights have been cancelled, while others have been suspended, affecting 15,779 passengers.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) disclosed the figures in a press release issued at 2pm on Thursday. According to CAAB, 42 of the affected flights were direct services and 61 were transit flights.

By Wednesday, disruptions had affected 100 flights and 15,393 passengers. The latest CAAB figures show an increase in both the number of affected flights and the number of passengers facing difficulties.

Among the direct flights affected were 17 operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 10 by US-Bangla Airlines, eight by Saudia and seven by Riyadh Air.

The disruptions also affected 22 IndiGo flights, 14 Emirates flights, seven SalamAir flights, eight Qatar Airways flights, six flydubai flights, three Air India flights and one EgyptAir flight operating on transit routes.

Amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have launched repeated attacks on Saudi Arabia. The deadliest attack occurred last Saturday. A total of 14 people, including two Bangladeshis, were killed in the attacks, while many others were injured.
Flight operations from Dhaka to Saudi Arabia began facing disruptions following the attacks, leaving Bangladeshi passengers travelling to the kingdom in difficulty. Some passengers are trying to reach Saudi Arabia by booking flights to alternative destinations.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines first suspended its Riyadh-bound flights and later halted services to Dammam. The national airline has announced that all flights from Dhaka to Riyadh and Dammam will remain suspended until October 17 for passenger safety.
Meanwhile, private airline US-Bangla Airlines has cancelled its Riyadh-bound flights until October 21.