Airlines Extend Flight Suspensions to Saudi Arabia into Winter Following Airport Attacks

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has partially reopened after its closure earlier in October, but international flights remain severely disrupted, as reported by The National. Several airlines extended their flight suspensions to several Saudi cities into November and December, as Houthi attacks on targets inside the Kingdom continue.

Emirates suspended all flights to Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah until October 25. Etihad Airways extended the cancellation of its flights between Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah until November 5. Lufthansa also suspended flights to Riyadh until November 18 and extended its suspension of flights to Dammam until November 30. Cathay Pacific extended its suspension of flights to Riyadh until January 31, 2027, while Scoot suspended its flights to Jeddah until December 2.

In the same context, Delta Air Lines postponed the launch of its flights between Atlanta and Riyadh to March 2027, after it was scheduled to start on October 23. British Airways intends to return with limited service to Riyadh on November 3 with one flight per day. The suspension also extends to flydubai until October 29, Oman Air and KLM until October 31, while Qatar Airways suspended its flights to Riyadh and Dammam until October 24 and reduced Jeddah flights from seven daily flights to four.

This suspension leaves travelers to Saudi Arabia, including Hajj and Umrah pilgrims as well as business travelers, with fewer options and shifting schedules. Airlines advise travelers to check their flight status with their airlines before heading to the airport and to verify rebooking or refund terms. Airport data indicates that international flights are still operating only partially, which means travel schedules may change in the coming weeks.

What Do These Terms Mean?

Flight Suspension: A temporary decision by which an airline stops its flights to a specific destination, which can be extended or lifted depending on how the situation develops.

Partial Operation: The return of the airport to limited operations, as only some terminals and flights open instead of resuming full activity.

Itinerary: The specific route a flight takes from the departure airport to the arrival airport, including the cities and stops it passes through.