Which airlines are still cancelling Riyadh flights after airport reopens?

Riyadh airport has reopened after deadly Houthi attacks forced the closure of King Khalid International Airport. However, many international airlines are continuing to cancel flights to Saudi Arabia, with some suspensions extending into 2027.

King Khalid International Airport reopened on 18 October and has resumed operations after more than a week of closure. Flights to the Saudi capital are expected to return gradually.

According to Saudi authorities, the Riyadh airport suffered a series of missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. This prompted Saudi aviation authorities to suspend operations and carry out safety inspections.

However despite the reopening, international services have not returned to normal. As The National reported, many international airlines have yet to resume flights despite the airport reopening. 

Lufthansa, KLM, Air France and several Asian and Gulf carriers have extended cancellations. 

Delta Air Lines has postponed the launch of its new Atlanta–Riyadh route into next year.

Saudi airport attacks caused widespread flight disruption

The closure followed repeated attacks on Saudi aviation facilities, including a deadly strike on King Khalid International Airport on 10 October and a further attack affecting Terminal 4 the following day.

Saudi aviation authorities suspended operations while they conducted damage assessments and safety inspections.

The disruption extended beyond Riyadh. Airports at Dammam and Abha were also targeted during the attacks, while airlines cancelled flights serving Jeddah and Madinah.

As AGN previously reported, aviation analytics company Cirium recorded 298 of the 366 departures scheduled from Riyadh on 15 October as cancelled or no-fly, an 81.4% disruption rate.

Across Saudi Arabia, 552 of 1,178 scheduled departures were disrupted that day, equivalent to 46.9%.

Riyadh reopens with restricted operations

Inside Aviation reports that two new Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) took effect following the expiry of the airport closure notice:

• NOTAM A3650/26: All arriving and departing aircraft require prior permission from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
• NOTAM A3651/26: The airport is unavailable for use as a planned diversion airport.

While Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport is no longer subject to the previous blanket closure, normal unrestricted operations have not yet resumed.

As of 11:11 AM local time today, Flightradar24 showed two flights delayed and 98 flights cancelled.

Which airlines are still cancelling flights to Riyadh and Saudi Arabia?

Several carriers have announced suspension dates extending well beyond the airport’s reopening.

• Lufthansa: Flights to Riyadh remain suspended through 18 November, while Dammam services are suspended through 30 November. The Lufthansa Group’s operational advisory confirms the revised dates.
• KLM: Riyadh and Dammam flights remain cancelled through 31 October.
• Air France: Riyadh services are suspended until 24 October.
• IndiGo: Flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah are cancelled through 24 October.
• Philippine Airlines: Riyadh services PR654 and PR655 are suspended until 29 November.
• Cathay Pacific: A planned resumption of Hong Kong–Riyadh services has been postponed through 31 January 2027.
• Delta Air Lines: The launch of Atlanta–Riyadh flights, originally scheduled for 23 October, has been postponed until March 2027.

These dates reflect the latest published airline advisories and reporting available on 19 October. They may change as carriers reassess security conditions. 

Gulf airlines also affected by continuing disruption

Airlines operating short-haul connections between Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Gulf states have also cancelled services.

Etihad Airways initially suspended Abu Dhabi–Riyadh flights through 19 October, alongside selected services to Dammam and Jeddah. A further travel update reported on 19 October indicates that cancellations affecting Riyadh and Dammam have been extended through 24 October.

Oman Air has suspended Riyadh services until 22 October. Qatar Airways and Air Arabia have also reported disruption to Saudi routes.

Emirates and flydubai have cancelled or adjusted services during the airport closure. 

Passengers should check the latest flight status rather than assume all previously suspended services have resumed. 

Some airlines are beginning to restore Saudi services

Not all international carriers are maintaining their suspensions. Malaysia Airlines resumed flights to Jeddah and Madinah on 18 October following a safety review. Gulf Air indicated that services scheduled after 18 October would operate as planned.

Airlines are continuing to assess security conditions and operational requirements before restoring services. Passengers should confirm their flight status directly with the operating carrier before travelling to the airport.