189 Riyadh-Dammam flights cancelled, 23,000 passengers affected

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

Of the cancelled flights, 112 were direct services and 77 were transit flights, CAAB sources said.

Among the direct flights, Biman Bangladesh Airlines cancelled 55, US-Bangla Airlines 10, Saudia 22 and Riyadh Air 25.

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

Read More

Gazipur DC steps in to build home for homeless widow

Passengers on the transit services were scheduled to travel to Riyadh and Dammam through various connecting destinations. However, the airlines did not carry passengers waiting in Dhaka after the corresponding flights from the transit countries were cancelled.

The disruptions followed attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels, after which Riyadh airport was temporarily closed. Dammam also came under attack during the same period.

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