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DHAKA: A total of 86 flights operated by various airlines on direct and transit routes between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have been disrupted following Houthi attacks on airports across Saudi Arabia, leaving 13,490 passengers facing travel difficulties.
Some of the flights have been cancelled, while others have been suspended. The number of affected passengers may rise further.
According to the latest data from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) on Wednesday morning, 36 direct flights to Saudi Arabia and 50 transit flights have been affected.
Of the direct flights, 14 operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 10 by US-Bangla Airlines, five by Saudia and seven by Riyadh Air have been disrupted.
Among the transit flights, 22 operated by IndiGo, 11 by Emirates, six by Qatar Airways, six by flydubai, four by SalamAir and one by EgyptAir have been affected.
Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Houthis have launched repeated attacks on Saudi Arabia. The deadliest attack occurred last Saturday, killing 14 people, including two Bangladeshis, and injuring several others.
Following the attacks, flight operations between Dhaka and Saudi Arabia began facing disruptions, leaving Bangladeshi passengers travelling to the kingdom in distress.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam from Dhaka until October 17, citing passenger safety. Meanwhile, private carrier US-Bangla Airlines has cancelled its Riyadh-bound flights until October 21.