Over 22,000 passengers stranded as 159 Dhaka-Riyadh flights axed

Flight operations between Dhaka and Riyadh have been severely disrupted, with 159 services cancelled and 22,721 passengers affected by the widespread cancellations. The scale of the disruption has created considerable inconvenience for travellers relying on the corridor, which serves as a key link for business and migrant workers travelling between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.

The cancellations have prompted concern among passengers and travel operators, with many left to rebook flights or seek alternative routes to complete their journeys. Airlines operating the route have faced mounting pressure to provide compensation and rebooking options for affected travellers.

The disruption underscores the vulnerability of air transport between South Asia and the Gulf region, where demand remains consistently high. Authorities and airlines have not publicly disclosed the specific cause of the widespread cancellations at this stage.

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to contact their respective airlines for updates on rescheduled services and available compensation schemes. The incident is likely to raise fresh questions about capacity and contingency planning on this heavily-utilised international route.