Saudi Arabia's Presidency of Civil Aviation has asked foreign airlines to stop transporting passengers by road to other countries for flying them to their final destination.
The directive is aimed at the practice by various airlines to transport passengers by bus to Bahrain from where they fly out, local media reported. On an average day, more than 800 passengers are transported via the King Fahd Causeway to Bahrain, it said. In an effort to enforce the ban, the Ministry of Commerce is seeking a guarantee from hotels and other property owners that house airline offices to ensure that these offices complied with the regulations. The report said the practice causes losses to the national carrier, Saudi Arabian Airlines, and deprives the Kingdom of millions of riyals every month in airport tax.