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DHAKA: A total of 51 flights operated by various airlines on direct and transit routes between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have been affected by the suspension of flight operations at several Saudi airports. Some flights have been cancelled, while others have been suspended, affecting 5,418 passengers scheduled to travel from Dhaka to various destinations in Saudi Arabia (SA).
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) disclosed the information in a press release on Monday afternoon. The cancellations and suspensions took place between Saturday night and Monday afternoon.
According to CAAB, 12 of the 51 affected flights were direct services between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, while the remaining 39 were transit flights.
The affected direct flights included four operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, two by US-Bangla Airlines, three by Saudia and three by Riyadh Air.
Among the transit flights, 16 were operated by IndiGo, three by SalamAir, one by EgyptAir, nine by Emirates, five by Qatar Airways and five by flydubai.
According to the latest CAAB information, the impact of restrictions on operations at Saudi airports is no longer limited to direct flights. Transit services operated by various international airlines have also been affected, creating uncertainty for passengers’ travel plans.
According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, all flights bound for Riyadh have either been diverted or cancelled. A Reuters report said the decision followed a major attack on King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital on Saturday.
Reuters reported that Riyadh’s international airport authorities had advised passengers to contact their respective airlines before heading to the airport and check the latest flight status.
US-Bangla cancels all Riyadh flights until October 21
Private airline US-Bangla Airlines said in a press release that all its flights on the Dhaka–Riyadh–Dhaka route had been cancelled until October 21 due to the closure of Riyadh airport.
The affected flights are BS 381 and BS 382. The airline said passengers would be notified once a revised schedule was finalised.
US-Bangla has urged passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia not to go to the airport for the time being. Passengers have been advised to contact the airline’s sales centres or their travel agencies before visiting the airport to obtain the latest flight information, rebooking assistance and other details.
The airline also apologised to passengers for the temporary inconvenience.
