Saudi Flight Disruptions Hit Nearly 22,000 Bangladesh Passengers

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Nearly 22,000 passengers have been affected by flight cancellations between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia following airport closures triggered by reported attacks on Riyadh, Bangladesh’s aviation authority said.

Six more direct and connecting flights were cancelled on Friday night, taking the total to 141 since October 10, according to a Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) statement issued late Friday.

The cancellations over the 14-day period affected 21,933 passengers and comprised 66 direct flights and 75 connecting services, CAAB said.

Among direct services, national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines cancelled 27 flights, while US-Bangla Airlines suspended 10. Saudi carriers Saudia and Riyadh Air cancelled 19 and 10 direct flights, respectively, the CAAB statement said.

Among transit operators, IndiGo recorded the highest number of cancellations, suspending 29 flights. Emirates cancelled 14 flights, Qatar Airways nine, flydubai eight, SalamAir and Air India seven each, and EgyptAir one, according to the CAAB release.