Business Travel to Saudi Arabia Freezes as Riyadh Airport Operates on Limited Scale

Business travel to Saudi Arabia has come to a near-standstill since the missile attack targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10. While the airport resumed limited flights on October 18, commercial air traffic remains restricted and subject to prior approvals.

Travel agency officials told "Skift" that new trips to the Kingdom are halted, and travelers currently there are attempting to exit via overland routes through Bahrain or Dammam before flying out from neighboring Gulf states. A Gulf region official at "Tumodo" explained that 50% of corporate bookings to Saudi Arabia were canceled over the past ten days, 30% were rescheduled, while 20% remained confirmed.

Data from "Cirium" showed that Riyadh bookings for November and December dropped by 23.8% year-on-year, compared to a decrease of just 1.3% in Jeddah, which absorbs Umrah traffic and short flights from Gulf countries. Airline suspensions expanded, with Lufthansa suspending flights until November 18, KLM until October 31, Philippine Airlines until November 29, and Cathay Pacific until the end of January 2027. Delta's launch of the Atlanta route was also postponed to March 2027. The attack resulted in damage to six aircraft with an insured value of nearly $375 million, killing at least 13 people and injuring more than 300.

On the events front, the Future Investment Initiative conference was postponed to 2027, along with the Red Sea International Film Festival, a GCC-EU summit, the "Intersec Saudi Arabia" exhibition, and the Saudi Retail Forum. These events form a pillar of the "Vision 2030" goal to welcome 150 million visitors annually. Most Umrah pilgrims have shifted to land routes instead of flying, while the United Kingdom continues to advise its citizens against all but essential travel to the rest of Saudi Arabia.

What Do These Terms Mean?

Scheduled Airlines: Companies that sell tickets for regular flights operating on fixed schedules, as opposed to private or charter flights.

Aviation Insurance: A policy covering damage to aircraft, with the insurance company paying its value in the event of an incident.

Vision 2030: A plan launched by Saudi Arabia in 2016 to diversify its economy away from oil, with goals including receiving 150 million visitors annually.