156 flights cancelled on Riyadh-Dammam routes; airline incurs Tk 1bn in losses

Airlines operating in Bangladesh have suffered estimated losses of at least Tk 1 billion after flights from Dhaka to Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia remained suspended for 18 consecutive days, disrupting travel for more than 22,000 passengers.

The suspension, triggered by Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia and concerns over regional security, has left expatriate workers facing uncertainty over their jobs, visa deadlines and potential immigration complications.

A total of 156 flights have been cancelled, affecting 22,241 passengers. The suspension on the two routes has been announced through November 4, with no clear indication of when normal operations will resume.


“People who had planned to perform Umrah are not travelling because of the current instability. If we consider the losses incurred by all airlines combined, I believe the figure has reached around Tk 1 billion,” he said.


Taslim Amin Shovon, chief executive officer of Innoglobe Travel and Tours, said more than 70% of tickets for European travel handled by his agency had been cancelled amid fears over regional security.

“Passengers were so frightened that they decided not to travel on those flights. They told us they would not travel through Middle Eastern routes, so we had to issue new tickets,” he said.