51 Saudi-bound flights halted, cancelled amid Houthi attacks

Different airlines either halted or cancelled total 51 flights bound for Saudi Arabia from Dhaka till Monday, after a major aerial attack by Iran-backed Houthis killed at least 12 people at Riyadh Airport.

The flight suspensions and cancellations have affected as many as 5,418 passengers in Bangladesh, said Squadron Leader Sakib, an official at the Security and Flight Management Wing of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The affected passengers include a large number of expatriates, who face their job prospects in Saudi Arabia at risk due to the travel disruptions.

Flights of three routes between Dhaka-Saudi Arabia has been affected: Dhaka-Riyadh, Dhaka-Jeddah, Dhaka-Dammam.

Among the affected flights, 12 are direct flights to Saudi Arabia, and 39 are transit flights.

Among the affected direct flights, Biman Bangladesh operates four, and US-Bangla Airlines operates two from Bangladesh. Saudi Arabia-based Saudia Airlines operates three, and Riyadh Airlines three more.

All the transit flights are operated by foreign airlines: IndiGo operates 16, SalamAir 3, EgyptAir 1, Emirates 9, Qatar Airways 5, and flydubai 5.