Restrictions at Saudi Airports Disrupt 144 Bangladesh-Route Flights, Leaving More Than 22,000 Passengers in Distress
Restrictions on flight operations at various airports in Saudi Arabia have disrupted 144 flights on the Bangladesh-Saudi route, counting both direct and transit services. At least 22,021 passengers have suffered as a result.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) gave the information in a press release sent to the media at midnight on Saturday (24 October). With operations disrupted at various Saudi airports, flights from Bangladesh are being cancelled and suspended, leaving passengers in distress.
According to CAAB, 67 of the affected flights are direct and 77 are transit flights. In other words, not only passengers on direct flights but also those travelling to Saudi Arabia via airports in third countries have fallen into the same crisis.
Among the direct flights, Biman Bangladesh Airlines accounts for 28 — the highest for any single airline. In addition, 19 direct flights of Saudia Airlines, 10 of US-Bangla Airlines and 10 of Riyadh Airways have been disrupted. Together, these 67 flights of four airlines make up the full picture of the direct routes.
The list of transit flights is even longer. IndiGo accounts for the most, with 30 flights. In addition, 14 Emirates flights, 9 Qatar Airways flights, 8 Flydubai flights, 8 Air India flights, 7 SalamAir flights and one EgyptAir flight have been disrupted — 77 transit flights in total.
CAAB also stated the reason behind the restrictions. Flight restrictions were imposed following attacks by the Iran-backed armed Houthi group on various airports in Saudi Arabia. As a result, alongside direct Bangladesh-Saudi flights, transit flights operated via airports in various countries have also been extensively affected.
In numerical terms, the scale of the disruption is large. The disruption of 144 flights at once means the travel plans of a huge number of passengers have been thrown into disarray. By CAAB's own count, the number of affected passengers is at least 22,021.
The picture of passenger suffering from cancelled and suspended flights is also clear. Being unable to start their journeys at the scheduled time, waiting for new schedules, and uncertainty over connecting flights have together put both Saudi-bound passengers and those returning from Saudi Arabia under pressure.
In this situation, CAAB's advice to passengers is single and clear — stay in contact with the relevant airline for necessary information. Passengers must confirm the latest status of their flight, its rescheduled timing, or any alternative arrangement from the airline itself.
The effect of the restrictions has spread so widely precisely because many flights operate on the Bangladesh-Saudi route every day. With seven transit airlines affected alongside the four airlines operating direct flights, this is not one airline's problem but a crisis of the entire route.
How long flight operations take to return to normal depends on how long the restrictions imposed after the Houthi attacks remain in force. CAAB's release gave no new timeframe, so passengers' uncertainty is not lifting yet.
All in all, Bangladesh's passengers and airlines must keep watching the situation at Saudi airports. For now, what passengers should do is contact their airline before travelling to confirm the status of their flight, so that they do not face unexpected distress after reaching the airport.
