A total of 153 flights operating from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka to the Saudi Arabian cities of Riyadh and Dammam have been canceled between October 10 and Wednesday, October 28, 2026, severely disrupting travel for 22,636 passengers.
According to official data released by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), the disruption comprises 76 direct flights and 77 transit flights. Among the direct carriers, state-owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines suffered the highest cancellation count with 33 flights, followed by Saudia Airlines (20), Riyadh Airways (13), and US-Bangla Airlines (10). Connecting international airlines carrying Bangladesh passengers via hubs were similarly affected, including IndiGo (30 flights), Emirates (14), Qatar Airways (9), Air India (8), Flydubai (8), SalamAir (7), and EgyptAir (1).
The severe operational suspension stems from targeted Houthi drone and missile strikes in Saudi Arabia, which prompted Saudi aviation authorities to temporarily close Riyadh and Dammam airports for security reasons. Biman Bangladesh Airlines initially suspended service to both destinations until October 17 before extending the ban as safety protocols remain in effect across Saudi airspace.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Staff Reporter • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
