Riyadh Airport Closure Cancels 61 Flights from Dhaka, Disrupting Travel for 9,269 Passengers

The closure of King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh has led to the cancellation of 61 flights from Dhaka, leaving 9,269 passengers in distress.

From Saturday until early Tuesday (October 13), 22 direct flights and 39 connecting flights were cancelled, according to sources involved in flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Of the cancelled direct flights, nine were operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, two by US-Bangla Airlines, four by Saudia and seven by Riyadh Air.

Among connecting flights, 16 operated by IndiGo, nine by Emirates, five by Qatar Airways, five by flydubai, three by SalamAir and one by EgyptAir were cancelled.

Passengers were scheduled to travel to Riyadh via these airlines’ international routes. However, cancellations from the connecting countries prevented passengers waiting in Dhaka from travelling to their destination.

Sources said the disruption was caused by security concerns at Riyadh airport. Expatriate workers, Umrah pilgrims and other travellers have been affected, with many having to wait for rescheduled flights.

Passengers whose flights have been cancelled have been advised to contact their respective airlines to confirm their revised travel schedules.

According to earlier reports, Riyadh airport operations were suspended on Sunday following an attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Although reports have claimed that the airport came under multiple attacks over the past week, the number of attacks, extent of damage and casualties have not been independently verified.

The Houthi rebel group in Yemen and the Saudi-led military coalition have been engaged in a prolonged conflict. Recent tensions have heightened concerns over the security of key Saudi facilities and air travel, affecting international aviation routes.

Passengers travelling from Dhaka to Riyadh have been advised to check the latest flight updates before heading to the airport until the situation returns to normal.