159 flights on Saudi routes cancelled: 22,721 passengers suffer as direct and transit services are disrupted

A total of 159 flights operating on direct and transit routes between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have been disrupted because of restrictions on flight operations at various airports in Saudi Arabia. As a result, 22,721 passengers on those flights have suffered disruption.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) gave the information in a press release at around 8:30pm on Friday (30 October). CAAB Public Relations Department Assistant Director Kawsar Mahmud provided the details on Friday night.

Of the 159 cancelled flights, 82 were direct flights. They included 37 flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 10 of US-Bangla Airlines, 20 of Saudia and 15 of Riyadh Air.

In addition, 77 transit flights were also cancelled. They included 30 flights of IndiGo, seven of Salam Air, one of Egypt Air, 14 of Emirates, nine of Qatar Airways, eight of flydubai and eight of Air India.

CAAB official Kawsar Mahmud said the pattern of flight cancellations could continue until the security situation in Saudi Arabia improves.

He said CAAB is monitoring the situation and working to reschedule the flights.