Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to resume its flight operations to the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh on October 25, following a two-week suspension prompted by security concerns at the destination airport. According to a press release issued by the national flag carrier on Wednesday evening, the flight is scheduled to depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 1:25 am on the night of October 25, Bangladesh time. The decision to restore services to Riyadh comes after a noticeable improvement in the security situation following recent Houthi rebel attacks on Saudi airports. Biman stated that subsequent flight schedules for Riyadh will be determined following continuous observation and comprehensive review of the overall security environment.
In parallel with the Riyadh resumption, Biman is restarting its flight operations on the Dammam route starting Thursday, October 22. Flights to Dammam will depart daily at 8:00 am from Dhaka until October 26, utilizing Boeing 777 aircraft for these journeys. Furthermore, the airline has outlined an active schedule for Jeddah, operating two flights from Dhaka on Thursday, October 22, followed by single daily departures at 7:20 pm on October 23, 24, and 25. Meanwhile, regular flight operations to Medina remain unaffected, with Boeing 787 aircraft maintaining the route on an unchanged schedule until further notice.
The state-owned airline has advised passengers that subsequent updates regarding flight operations and schedules will be communicated in due time. Travelers seeking assistance with ticket purchases, booking procedures, and general travel guidelines have been requested to contact their nearest Biman Bangladesh Airlines sales centers.
The temporary disruption in flight schedules originated earlier this month when a missile attack by Yemen's armed Houthi group targeted Saudi Arabia's King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 14 people, including two Bangladeshi nationals. Following the strike, Saudi authorities temporarily suspended flight operations at the airport, prompting Biman to cancel its scheduled Dhaka-Riyadh flight on October 10 and subsequently halt services to Dammam.
