By el Amigo
MANILA — Hundreds of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including household service workers (HSWs) who were rehired or had gone on vacation, remain stranded in Riyadh as Philippine authorities work to find alternative routes for their return to Manila.
The disruption follows the closure of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, which Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said would remain closed until October 17 following attacks that reportedly killed 13 people and injured more than 300.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry has urged passengers whose flights were affected to contact Saudi diplomatic missions abroad for assistance.
The security situation has also disrupted air travel across the kingdom. Qatar Airways suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam indefinitely, while Etihad Airways halted its Riyadh service until October 19. Lufthansa, Air India, British Airways and Cathay Pacific had also suspended routes to the kingdom before the Riyadh airport closure.
Although flights from Jeddah remain operational, disruptions persist. Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 reported on Friday that 25 percent of flights were delayed and 10 percent cancelled. Significant disruptions were also reported in southern Saudi Arabia.
Philippine Airlines reportedly suspended its Riyadh flights until November 29, 2026, while Cebu Pacific’s suspension was set to run until October 31.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) have announced preparations to repatriate more than 200 stranded OFWs who wish to return home but cannot secure flights.
However, restrictions affecting Riyadh and Dammam airports remain major obstacles amid reports of missile and drone attacks.
Migrant expert Emmanuel Geslani expressed reservations about plans to route the stranded workers through Jeddah, citing the 10- to 12-hour land journey from Riyadh and the limited availability of flights to Manila. He also pointed to the security risks posed by the volatile airspace over Saudi Arabia.
Geslani on Saturday said OWWA should continue providing emergency assistance to affected Filipinos in Riyadh, including seafarers, through its Aksyon Fund while safe and practical repatriation options are being assessed.
ia/xf
