Due to ongoing flight operation restrictions at airports across Saudi Arabia, a total of 135 direct and transit flights operating on routes between Bangladesh and the kingdom have been cancelled or suspended. This disruption has severely affected 20,672 passengers. According to data released by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) in a press briefing on Thursday afternoon, the suspended and cancelled services include 62 direct flights and 73 transit flights.
CAAB statistics indicate that the affected direct flights comprise 23 operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 19 by Saudia, 10 by US-Bangla Airlines, and 10 by Riyadh Air. Meanwhile, the impacted transit services include 28 flights by IndiGo, 14 by Emirates, 9 by Qatar Airways, 8 by flydubai, 7 by SalamAir, 6 by Air India, and 1 by EgyptAir.
Flight operations at several Saudi airports, including the capital Riyadh, were initially restricted following attacks by Yemen's Houthi armed group. Although some airports have resumed limited operations, many international carriers continue to withhold services out of safety concerns regarding the evolving situation.
Amidst these disruptions, a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying 379 passengers departed from Dhaka for Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia on Thursday morning. However, following fresh attacks reported at Dammam Airport late Wednesday night, uncertainty looms over the future viability of flights to Dammam. In response to the developing situation, the management of Biman Bangladesh Airlines has convened a high-level meeting on Thursday night to determine its next course of action.
