118 flights disrupted 18,362 passengers affected

Operational restrictions in Saudi Arabian airports have disrupted 118 direct and transit flights involving Bangladeshi travellers, affecting a total of 18,362 passengers in eight days, as uncertainty over flight schedules continues to cause hardship to people travelling for work, Umrah and other purposes.

According to the latest available figures, 52 direct flights and 66 transit flights have been affected, leaving thousands of passengers facing delays, rescheduling and uncertainty over their travel plans.

The disruption has caused additional difficulties for migrant workers, Umrah pilgrims, families and other travellers, many of whom depend on timely flights to meet employment commitments, complete religious journeys or maintain connecting travel arrangements. Passengers affected by cancellations and schedule changes may also face additional expenses for accommodation, food, local transport and alternative tickets. Those travelling through international hubs are particularly vulnerable to missed connections when one leg of their journey is delayed or cancelled.

Among direct services, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has reported 19 affected flights, while Saudia Airlines has 13. US-Bangla Airlines and Riyadh Air have reported 10 affected flights each. Together, the four airlines account for 52 affected direct flights.

Transit services have also suffered substantial disruption, with 66 affected flights involving seven airlines.

IndiGo has reported the highest number of affected transit flights at 23, followed by Emirates with 14 and Qatar Airways with nine. SalamAir has seven affected flights, while Flydubai and Air India have six each. EgyptAir has reported one affected flight.

The disruption to connecting services has compounded passengers' difficulties, as changes to one flight can affect onward journeys and leave travellers waiting for alternative connections.

The growing disruption has heightened concerns over timely information, alternative travel arrangements and the processing of rebooking and refund requests.

Passengers may have to rearrange accommodation, transportation and other commitments while waiting for confirmation of revised departure times. Those travelling on tight budgets or with fixed employment joining dates may face particularly difficult circumstances.

Timely communication from airlines is therefore crucial to prevent passengers from making unnecessary trips to airports or incurring avoidable expenses.

Travellers are advised to contact their airlines or travel agents before leaving for the airport and verify their flight status, revised departure time and connecting arrangements. They should also retain their tickets, booking confirmations and receipts for additional expenses when seeking assistance.

The disruption is particularly significant for Bangladesh, which has a large migrant workforce in Saudi Arabia and a substantial number of passengers travelling to the kingdom for Umrah and other purposes.

The situation remains dependent on operational conditions at the affected Saudi airports and the airlines' ability to adjust their schedules. Passengers have been urged to follow official airline updates before making further travel arrangements.