PNN – Following the closure of the Riyadh airport, travelers in Saudi Arabia are resorting to land routes to reach Qatar and Bahrain.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; the Financial Times has reported that attacks from Yemen on Saudi Arabia—along with the closure of Riyadh’s main airport—have led to the cancellation of thousands of flights and a sharp spike in the cost of private air travel. This situation has forced some passengers to utilize more distant airports or travel by land to leave the country.
The report states that since the attacks began, more than 5,500 outbound flights from Saudi airports have been canceled, and airlines—including Lufthansa and ITA—have suspended their flights to the country.
In the wake of these disruptions, some travelers are heading to Al-Qassim Airport—located more than 320 kilometers from Riyadh—to take private flights. Others have traveled to Bahrain or Qatar to access commercial flights.
The Financial Times reported that the cost of private flights to Europe has, in some instances, reached $150,000. This price surge is attributed primarily to increased demand, a reduction in the number of service providers, and rising costs for war-risk insurance. Furthermore, some Western companies are considering relocating their senior staff out of Saudi Arabia.