Riyadh Airport Reopens After Houthi Attacks, But Flight Cancellations Persist

Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport resumed operations on Sunday following a closure attributed to attacks by Houthi rebels from Yemen. Despite the reopening, numerous airlines have yet to reinstate their suspended flights to the Saudi capital and other locations within the kingdom. Some carriers have extended their flight suspensions into November and beyond, while others are preparing to resume services. This disruption occurs amidst broader regional uncertainty that has already impacted airlines' operations in the Middle East.

Here's how major airlines have adjusted their operations and their expected flight resumption timelines:

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways has extended flight cancellations between Abu Dhabi and three Saudi cities—Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam—until October 24, citing regional disruption. Specific cancelled flights include EY601 and EY603 from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah, and EY602 and EY604 from Jeddah to Abu Dhabi.

Emirates

Emirates services from Dubai to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam have experienced cancellations and schedule changes. According to Flightradar24, Jeddah-bound flights EK801, EK805, and EK803 were cancelled on October 19 and 20, with services scheduled to resume on October 21. Dubai to Riyadh flights EK815, EK819, and EK817 have also been cancelled, with EK817 set to resume on October 20, followed by EK815 and EK819 on October 21.

Flydubai

Flydubai has cancelled flights to Riyadh, Dammam, and Abha up to and including October 24.

Air Arabia

Air Arabia has cancelled services between Sharjah and several Saudi destinations, including Riyadh, Abha, Dammam, and Taif. No resumption date has been announced.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam. A resumption date has not yet been announced.

Gulf Air

Gulf Air has stated that flights scheduled after Sunday, October 18, are proceeding as planned, following its earlier announced Riyadh cancellations.

Oman Air

Oman Air has announced that all flights to and from Riyadh are suspended until October 22.

SalamAir

The Omani low-cost airline has cancelled flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam until October 31, citing regional security developments.

Air France

The French airline has extended its suspension of flights to and from Riyadh up to October 24.

British Airways

British Airways is scheduled to return with a limited service to Riyadh on November 3, operating one flight daily as per previously announced plans. The airline had discontinued flights to Jeddah in April as part of broader adjustments to its Middle East operations.

Air India and Air India Express

Air India and Air India Express have suspended flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam until October 24.

Akasa Air

The Indian low-cost airline has suspended flights to and from Riyadh until October 24 and Jeddah until October 21.

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific has extended its suspension of flights to Riyadh up to January 31, 2027.

Pakistan International Airlines

Pakistan International Airlines announced a temporary suspension of flights to Riyadh on October 9, without specifying a resumption date. The Pakistan Airports Authority indicated at the time that its other Saudi services were continuing normally.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines has postponed the launch of its Atlanta to Riyadh flights until March 2027. Services were initially scheduled to commence on October 23.

IndiGo

The Indian airline has cancelled flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah up to October 24.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa has suspended flights to Riyadh until November 18, extending its prior October 16 deadline. The Lufthansa Group's advisory also lists Dammam services as suspended through November 30. Eurowings, a subsidiary of the group, is slated to resume flights to Jeddah on November 12.

Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines has announced that flights to and from Jeddah and Madinah will resume on October 18, following a safety review.

KLM

KLM has extended cancellations for all flights to Riyadh and Dammam up to October 31.

Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines has suspended Riyadh flights PR654 and PR655 until November 29, citing security concerns at King Khalid International Airport.

Scoot

The Singapore Airlines-owned low-cost carrier has cancelled flights between Singapore and Jeddah until December 2.