103 Saudi-bound flights from Bangladesh disrupted, affecting 15,779 passengers

Disruptions at multiple Saudi Arabian airports have disrupted a total of 103 flights operating between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia on direct and transit routes, according to a press release from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).

CAAB's latest figures show that 42 of the disrupted services were direct flights and 61 were transit services. Among the direct services, Biman Bangladesh Airlines accounted for 17 cancellations or suspensions, followed by US-Bangla Airlines with 10, Saudia with eight, and Riyadh Air with seven.

For the transit routes, IndiGo topped the list with 22 affected flights, Emirates with 14, SalamAir with seven, Qatar Airways with eight, flydubai with six, Air India with three, and EgyptAir with one.

The disruption impact has grown from earlier counts, with 15,779 passengers affected in total. CAAB reported that by the previous day 100 flights had been affected, involving 15,393 passengers, marking an uptick in both disrupted flights and passenger impact.

Context for the disruptions includes the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and related security concerns after attacks in Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthi rebels, which have influenced flight operations and routing.

Bangladeshi travelers to Saudi Arabia have faced difficulties, with some seeking alternatives to reach Saudi destinations. Biman Bangladesh Airlines has suspended its Riyadh and Dammam services until 17 October, while US-Bangla Airlines has canceled its Riyadh-bound flights until 21 October.