All Biman Flights From Dhaka to Dammam and Riyadh Suspended After Attack on Dammam Airport

All Biman Bangladesh Airlines flights from Dhaka to Dammam and Riyadh have been suspended, considering passenger safety after an attack on King Fahd International Airport in the Saudi city of Dammam. Biman Bangladesh Airlines announced the decision in a notice on Thursday.

The notice said the suspension was imposed to ensure passenger safety following the attack on Dammam airport on the night of Wednesday, 21 October. Although the decision is sudden, the airline has put the security situation directly at the centre of its reasoning.

Under the schedule, all flights from Dhaka to Dammam on 23, 24 and 25 October have been suspended. In other words, all travel on the Dammam route will remain closed for three days for now.

For the Riyadh route, the suspension is longer. Under the decision, all flights on the Riyadh route will remain suspended until 31 October. As a result, those who had booked tickets to travel to Riyadh, or to return from there, during this period must make major changes to their travel plans.

Biman said the next decision on the suspended flights and a revised travel schedule will be announced in due course. In other words, a new schedule will be announced after a review of the situation, and passengers will need to watch for that announcement.

Not all Saudi routes are closing, however. During this period, Biman Bangladesh Airlines flights from Dhaka to Jeddah and Madinah will operate according to their scheduled timetable.

An alternative route has also been kept open for Dammam and Riyadh-bound passengers in urgent need. Subject to seat availability, they will be able to travel to Saudi Arabia using Jeddah and Madinah international airports.

Saudi Arabia is one of Bangladesh's largest labour markets and the destination of a large share of expatriate Bangladeshis. A large portion of passengers travelling to cities such as Dammam and Riyadh are expatriate workers and their family members. The suspension will therefore directly affect countless passengers, especially those whose joining work or leave schedules are tied to specific dates.

The airline has requested passengers to contact their nearest Biman Bangladesh Airlines sales centre for necessary information regarding tickets and travel. Those whose journeys fall under the suspension will need guidance from there on the new schedule, whether seats are available on alternative routes, and their tickets.

The decision reflects the uncertainty over air travel safety that has arisen after the attack on Dammam airport. The wording of the notice makes clear that Biman has taken this step giving passenger safety the highest priority.

Passengers must now wait for Biman's next announcement — when normal flights will return on the Dammam and Riyadh routes, and what the revised schedule for suspended passengers will be, will be known from that announcement.

Meanwhile, those with urgent travel have the option, subject to seat availability, of travelling via Jeddah and Madinah, and Biman has advised all passengers to check the latest status of their own flight before travelling.