RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, October 15, 2026 — Update to our October 14 story. King Khalid International Airport (RUH) was still closed to flights as of Wednesday evening, October 14, and no reopening date has been announced. More airlines have now published how long they will stay away, and some suspensions run well past the current closure notice.
What changed since Wednesday
- Still closed: Gulf News reported on the evening of October 14 that flights at Riyadh remain suspended. The notice to pilots (NOTAM) still runs to 21:00 UTC on October 17, Gulf Business says, but that is a deadline, not a confirmed reopening. Reopening date: TBA.
- Air India Express added: Gulf News now lists Air India Express alongside Air India, IndiGo and Akasa Air, all suspended to and from Saudi Arabia until October 17.
- Longer suspensions: Gulf Business’s updated list shows Air France-KLM out of Riyadh until the end of October, Philippine Airlines until November 29, and Cathay Pacific postponing its Hong Kong–Riyadh restart through January 31, 2027. Delta’s Atlanta–Riyadh launch is pushed to March 2027.
- Other Saudi cities hit too: flydubai has extended Riyadh, Dammam and Abha cancellations to October 19. Malaysia Airlines has cancelled Jeddah and Madinah until October 17.
- Scale: Cirium data cited by Gulf News shows 296 of 334 Riyadh departures were cancelled or not flown on October 13. Gulf Business reports 313 of 1,097 departures across Saudi Arabia were cancelled or not operating on October 14.
- Still flying elsewhere: Saudia is running scheduled flights from Dammam, Jeddah and Medina, Gulf News says, though some disruption has been reported at those airports.
Reported airline suspensions
| Airline | What is affected | Through |
|---|---|---|
| Lufthansa Group | All Riyadh flights | Oct 16 |
| Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, Akasa Air | Saudi Arabia flights | Oct 17 |
| Gulf Air | Bahrain–Riyadh | Oct 17 |
| Malaysia Airlines | Jeddah, Madinah | Oct 17 |
| Etihad | Abu Dhabi–Riyadh | Oct 19 |
| flydubai | Riyadh, Dammam, Abha | Oct 19 |
| Air France-KLM | Riyadh | End of October |
| Philippine Airlines | Riyadh | Nov 29 |
| Cathay Pacific | Hong Kong–Riyadh restart | Jan 31, 2027 |
| Qatar Airways | Riyadh, Dammam | TBA |
Dates are as reported by Gulf Business on October 14 and Gulf News on October 14. Reports differ on some end dates, and airlines are changing them often, so check with the carrier.
What it means for travelers
- Do not plan on Riyadh before October 18 at the earliest. Several airlines will stay away much longer, even if the airport reopens.
- Dammam and Jeddah are only a partial workaround. Saudia is still flying there, but Indian, Gulf and Asian carriers have cut some of those flights too.
- Expect full flights when service returns. With most Riyadh departures cancelled for days, stranded passengers will fill the first flights back.
- Expect busy Gulf connections. Rebooked Saudi passengers are moving through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain.
Sources
- Gulf News — India Issues Advisory as Riyadh Airport Flights Remain Suspended
- Gulf News — Flight Cancellations: UAE Airlines Update on Saudi Routes Amid Riyadh Airport Disruptions
- Gulf Business — Saudi flight cancellations: Latest list of affected airlines and routes
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