Gulf Carriers Cancel Over 60 Saudi Flights as Riyadh Closure Continues
Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia have canceled more than 60 round-trip flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam through October 18, amid the closure of the Saudi capital's airport.
Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia have canceled more than 60 round-trip flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam through at least October 18, as the Saudi capital's airport remains closed.
Seat capacity between the UAE and Saudi Arabia had recovered to 92% of pre-pandemic levels just last month, according to ForwardKeys data, making these cancellations a heavy blow to recovering travel traffic.
This route serves a wide segment of business travelers and Umrah pilgrims, meaning the disruption affects not only tourism, but also business and religious visits simultaneously.
As restrictions continue at Riyadh Airport, travelers are rebooking via Jeddah and Dammam or postponing their trips, while airlines monitor developments to determine when to resume normal schedules.
What Do These Terms Mean?
Seat Capacity: The total number of seats available on flights between two destinations during a specific timeframe, used as an indicator of travel traffic volume.
Umrah: A pilgrimage to the Grand Mosque in Mecca to perform rituals at any time of the year, unlike the Hajj, which has a specific timeframe.
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