Saudi Arabia Flight Disruptions Continue: Major Airlines Extend Cancellations Amidst Airport Restrictions

Disruptions to flights serving Riyadh persist, even after King Khalid International Airport partially reopened on October 25 following attacks by Yemen’s Houthis. The airport is currently operating under limitations, leading some Saudia flights bound for the capital to be rerouted via Al Qassim or Dammam, with passengers then continuing to Riyadh by bus. Services to Jeddah are gradually being restored.

Emirates recommenced some flights from Dubai on October 30, and Etihad Airways is slated to reintroduce four services between Abu Dhabi and Jeddah on November 6. For flights to Riyadh and Dammam, Emirates' schedule indicates a restart of passenger flights on November 8, while Etihad has extended its cancellations through November 19. Here's a detailed look at the status of major airlines flying to Saudi Arabia:

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways has cancelled all passenger and cargo flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, as well as between Abu Dhabi and Dammam, until November 19. The airline plans to resume four Abu Dhabi-Jeddah services on November 6, specifically EY601 and EY603 from Abu Dhabi, and EY602 and EY604 from Jeddah. Other Jeddah flights operated by Etihad are expected to continue as scheduled.

Emirates

Some Emirates services between Dubai and Jeddah resumed on October 30, with flight tracking data confirming the operation of EK803 and EK805 on that day and again on November 5. However, EK801 and its return service, EK802, were still listed as cancelled on November 4. Passenger flights between Dubai and both Riyadh and Dammam are scheduled to resume on November 8. Emirates' services to Madinah have remained operational.

Flydubai

Flydubai has cancelled flights connecting Dubai with Riyadh, Dammam, and Abha until November 9. The airline cautions that schedules may be subject to further changes and advises passengers to verify their flight status before traveling.

Air Arabia

Air Arabia has not yet announced a date for the resumption of flights from Sharjah to Saudi Arabia. The airline's flights between Sharjah and Riyadh, Abha, Dammam, and Taif are currently suspended with no restart date provided in the latest travel updates.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam, Abha, and Taif, with no resumption date indicated in the airline's travel advisory. The frequency of flights to Jeddah has also been reduced.

Oman Air

Flights from Muscat to Riyadh are scheduled to resume on November 8, according to an update shared with the travel firm GTS.

SalamAir

The Omani low-cost airline, SalamAir, has cancelled flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam until November 30, citing the regional security situation.

British Airways

British Airways has postponed its London to Riyadh flights until January 11, 2027. The airline had initially planned to restart its London Heathrow-Riyadh service on November 3 with one daily flight, but this has now been rescheduled. Furthermore, British Airways has permanently discontinued its London-Jeddah service.

Air India and Air India Express

Flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam are suspended through November 14, according to the latest travel update from Musafir.

Akasa Air

The Indian low-cost airline Akasa Air has extended the suspension of its flights to and from Jeddah through November 18. Its Riyadh flights are suspended until November 30.

Cathay Pacific

The Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific has cancelled passenger flights to and from Riyadh through January 31, 2027.

Pakistan International Airlines

The Pakistan Airports Authority announced on October 9 that Pakistan International Airlines had temporarily suspended flights to Riyadh, providing no resumption date. At the time, other Saudi services by the airline were reported to be continuing as normal.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines has postponed the launch of its Atlanta-Riyadh route until March 2027. The inaugural flights were originally scheduled to commence on October 23.

Air France

Air France has extended its suspension of flights to and from Riyadh through December 12. The airline will notify affected passengers.

IndiGo

IndiGo's flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah are cancelled through November 14, according to the latest travel advisories.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa's flights to and from Riyadh are suspended through November 18. The suspension of the Lufthansa Group's Dammam service extends through November 30. Eurowings, part of the Lufthansa Group, has scheduled flights to Jeddah from Berlin and Cologne/Bonn starting November 12, as indicated by the airports' winter timetables.

KLM

KLM has extended flight cancellations to Riyadh and Dammam through November 27 and will inform passengers whose flights are affected.

Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines has suspended Riyadh flights PR654 and PR655 until November 29 due to the security situation at King Khalid International Airport.

Scoot

The low-cost carrier Scoot, owned by Singapore Airlines, has extended cancellations on its Singapore-Jeddah route until February 28, 2027. This suspension affects TR796 from Singapore and TR797 from Jeddah.