King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, resumed its operations on October 18 following a temporary closure due to attacks from Yemen’s Houthis. While the airport is operational, numerous airlines are still in the process of resuming flights to the Saudi capital and various other cities throughout the kingdom.
Impact on Regional Flights
Several airlines from the UAE and Gulf nations have been affected by these developments. Etihad Airways announced the cancellation of all flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh until October 19, which also impacted flights to Jeddah and Dammam. Fortunately, services to Dammam and specific flights to Jeddah, namely EY601, EY602, EY603, and EY604, were reinstated on October 18.
Emirates Airlines faced similar disruptions, with multiple cancellations and rescheduling of flights between Dubai and major Saudi cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. For October 20, the schedule lists six connections from Dubai to Riyadh, including flights EK815, EK817, and EK819 heading to Saudi Arabia, along with return flights EK816, EK818, and EK820.
Flydubai and Air Arabia also canceled flights to Riyadh, Dammam, and Abha through October 19. There is currently no designated date for Air Arabia’s resumption of flights from Sharjah to various Saudi destinations. Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended operations to and from Riyadh and Dammam, while Gulf Air is currently operating its flights without delays as of October 18.
Ongoing Flight Cancellations and Future Plans
The travel disruptions are expected to persist for some time. Oman Air has suspended all flights to and from Riyadh until October 22, while SalamAir extended its recent flight halt to Riyadh and Dammam until October 31. Air France has also decided to extend its flight suspension to Riyadh until October 24, whereas British Airways plans a limited resumption of service to Riyadh on November 3, offering one flight daily.
Lufthansa has halted flights to Riyadh until November 18, with a suspension on services to Dammam continuing until November 30. Eurowings aims to restart its flights to Jeddah on November 12. KLM, however, has canceled all journeys to Riyadh and Dammam until October 31. Other airlines like Philippine Airlines have reassessed their schedules, with specific flights canceled until November 29. Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific has extended its flight halt to Riyadh through January 31, 2027.
On a brighter note, Malaysia Airlines successfully resumed operations to Jeddah and Medina on October 18 following a security evaluation. Delta Air Lines has postponed the launch of its new Atlanta-to-Riyadh route, originally scheduled for October 23, to March 2027.
In summary, as King Khalid International Airport has reopened, travelers should remain informed about ongoing flight cancellations and rescheduled services. It is advisable for passengers to check with their respective airlines regularly for the most current updates before planning their journeys to or from Saudi Arabia.