144 Saudi-bound flights cancelled, 22,000 passengers affected

A total of 144 flights from Dhaka to Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia have been cancelled, affecting 22,021 passengers.

According to sources at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), the flights cancelled between 10 October and Saturday (24 October) night included 67 direct flights and 77 transit flights.

Of the direct flights, 28 were operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 10 by US-Bangla Airlines, 19 by Saudia and 10 by Riyadh Airways.

Among the transit flights affected, 30 were 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 on these flights were scheduled to travel to Riyadh and Dammam via different transit destinations. However, the airlines did not carry the passengers from Dhaka after their onward flights to the Saudi cities were cancelled from their respective hubs.

Riyadh airport was recently closed following Iran-backed Houthi militant attacks, while Dammam was also targeted.

Against this backdrop, Biman Bangladesh Airlines suspended its flights to Riyadh and Dammam until 17 October, while US-Bangla Airlines cancelled its Riyadh-bound flights until 21 October.