The Saudia Airlines may resume operations from Riyadh airport tomorrow (28 October), provided the situation remains stable, according to information shared with the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (Caab).
"If everything goes well, hopefully, inshallah, from tomorrow, Saudia Airlines will resume operations from Riyadh Airport," Caab said in a statement today (27 October), citing information from the Saudi carrier.
Meanwhile, operational restrictions at Saudi Arabian airports have disrupted 146 direct and transit flights, affecting 22,241 passengers so far, according to the latest data from Caab's ASM Flight Management.
Of the affected flights, 69 were direct services and 77 were transit flights, according to an update shared by Squadron Leader Sakib of ASM Flight Management.
Among direct flights, Biman Bangladesh Airlines recorded the highest number of disruptions, with 29 flights affected. Saudia Airlines had 19 flights affected, while Riyadh Air had 11 and US-Bangla Airlines had 10.
Among transit flights, IndiGo recorded the highest number of disruptions, with 30 flights affected, followed by Emirates with 14, Qatar Airways with nine, Air India and flydubai with eight each, SalamAir with seven and EgyptAir with one.
Amid the disruptions, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has extended the suspension of all flights from Dhaka to Dammam and Riyadh until 4 November 2026, citing passenger safety concerns amid reported attacks on Saudi airports.
In a press release issued on 25 October, the national flag carrier advised passengers travelling to or returning from Saudi Arabia to use Jeddah and Medina international airports as alternatives.
Biman has been operating two daily flights on the Dhaka–Jeddah route since 16 October, and the service will continue until 4 November. Regular flights on the Dhaka–Medina route are also operating using Boeing 787 aircraft.
The airline said it would provide updates on further decisions and flight schedules in due course. Passengers seeking ticketing and travel-related information have been advised to contact their nearest Biman Bangladesh Airlines sales centre.
The disruptions followed a series of attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh in early October, which prompted Saudi authorities to suspend operations for safety inspections. The attacks killed and injured people, damaged airport facilities and triggered widespread flight cancellations across Saudi Arabia. Yemen's Houthi group claimed responsibility for some of the strikes, while Saudi authorities reported intercepting missiles targeting the kingdom.
Riyadh airport began resuming flights on 25 October after a closure lasting about two weeks, but continuing security concerns have prompted airlines to maintain or extend restrictions on some services.