# Airlines Extend Saudi Arabia Flight Suspensions Amid Regional Security Concerns Major international carriers delay service resumptions to Riyadh and Dammam following recent security incidents. - **Source:** [The National](https://www.thenationalnews.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/23f2724c-17c8-41ae-9a68-94a7abd788f0 ## Airport Disruptions Continue King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh remains under operational restrictions following attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on October 25. While the facility partially reopened, many flights are still being rerouted through Al Qassim or Dammam. Passengers currently rely on bus transfers to reach the capital, reflecting the ongoing instability affecting regional aviation infrastructure. ## Etihad and Emirates Adjustments Etihad Airways has extended its suspension of passenger and cargo flights to Riyadh and Dammam through November 19. Conversely, Emirates resumed limited services to Jeddah on October 30. The carrier plans to restart flights to Riyadh and Dammam on November 8, though several specific flight numbers remain listed as cancelled for now. ## Regional Carrier Responses Flydubai has cancelled flights to Riyadh, Dammam, and Abha until November 9, while Air Arabia maintains suspensions for multiple Saudi cities without a specified restart date. Qatar Airways has temporarily halted services to several locations, including Riyadh and Taif, while simultaneously reducing flight frequencies to Jeddah to manage the current operational challenges. ## Omani Airline Strategies Oman Air intends to resume flights from Muscat to Riyadh on November 8, according to updates shared with travel firms. Meanwhile, the low-cost carrier SalamAir has extended its cancellations for Riyadh and Dammam until November 30, explicitly citing the regional security situation as the primary driver for these prolonged service interruptions. ## European and Global Carriers British Airways has postponed its London-Riyadh service restart until January 11, 2027, and permanently discontinued its London-Jeddah route. Air France has extended its suspension of Riyadh flights through December 12. Lufthansa maintains suspensions for Riyadh until November 18, while its Dammam service remains grounded until November 30 due to ongoing regional security concerns. ## Asian and Indian Operators Air India and IndiGo have suspended flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam through November 14. Akasa Air extended its Jeddah suspension through November 18, with Riyadh flights grounded until November 30. Cathay Pacific has cancelled all passenger flights to and from Riyadh until January 31, 2027, indicating a long-term shift in operational planning. ## Further International Delays Delta Air Lines has postponed the launch of its new Atlanta-Riyadh route until March 2027, delaying the original October 23 start date. Similarly, Philippine Airlines has suspended specific Riyadh flights until November 29. Scoot, a Singapore Airlines subsidiary, has extended its Singapore-Jeddah route cancellations until February 28, 2027, reflecting widespread caution among global airlines. ## Operational Outlook and Impact The aviation sector faces significant uncertainty as airlines prioritize passenger safety amid regional tensions. With many carriers pushing restart dates into 2027, the disruption highlights the fragility of air travel corridors in the Middle East. Travelers are advised to monitor official airline advisories closely, as schedules remain subject to rapid, unpredictable changes. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.thenationalnews.com/travel/2026/11/06/saudi-arabia-flight-cancellations-which-airlines-are-suspending-services-and-until-when/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._