On 6 November 2026, flights to Jeddah are slowly returning, but several airlines still do not fly to Riyadh and Dammam. Etihad restarts four flights between Abu Dhabi and Jeddah on 6 November and has cancelled all passenger and cargo flights to Riyadh and Dammam up to and including 19 November1. flydubai has cancelled flights to Abha, Dammam and Riyadh up to and including 9 November2, Lufthansa will not fly to Riyadh up to and including 18 November3 and KLM has cancelled its Riyadh and Dammam flights up to and including 27 November4. Cathay Pacific has suspended its Riyadh flights and Scoot its Jeddah flights into 202756.

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh partially resumed operations on 25 October, with Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights by Saudi national carriers7. The airport had closed after Houthi attacks in October8. On 26 October the Houthis claimed a ballistic missile attack on the airport, and Saudi Arabia said its air defences had destroyed a missile bound for Riyadh8. The National reported on 6 November that the airport is still operating under restrictions9.

Which airlines have suspended flights to Saudi Arabia?

The table lists only suspensions that an airline has announced itself, either on its own website or in a statement reported by the media. It shows the situation on 6 November 2026. End dates have moved several times4, and Etihad said the situation remains fluid and further changes are possible1. A published end date may therefore move again.

Two Saudi carriers are working around the restrictions in Riyadh. Riyadh Air says that until further notice it operates only to and from Cairo, Dhaka, Jeddah, London Heathrow, Lahore and Islamabad, all through Al Qassim airport, with a coach from Riyadh that takes about four and a half hours13. Some Saudia flights serving the capital have been rerouted through Al Qassim or Dammam, with passengers continuing to Riyadh by bus9.

Why are flights still suspended after Riyadh reopened?

Restrictions at Riyadh remain in force. Under NOTAM A3650/26, operators need prior approval from Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) for arrivals and departures, and NOTAM A3651/26 prevents airlines from using Riyadh as a diversion airport8. Before the reopening, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree described the airport as unsafe and a military target8.

Not every airline links its suspension to the attacks on Riyadh. Cathay Pacific extended its suspension amid the ongoing situation in the Middle East5, and Scoot gave the geopolitical situation in the Middle East as the reason for its Jeddah cancellations6. KLM has extended its Riyadh and Dammam cancellations step by step since the spring; on 10 October it moved the end date to 31 October and on 26 October to 27 November4.

Philippine Airlines links its decision directly to Riyadh, citing the evolving security situation at King Khalid International Airport12.

What do EASA and the FAA advise?

EASA's Conflict Zone Information Bulletin for Saudi Arabia, CZIB-2026-09-R1, was issued on 30 September, revised on 9 October and is valid until 16 November unless reviewed earlier14. It covers the Jeddah FIR at all altitudes and flight levels. EASA notes that recent attacks showed a greater focus on aviation infrastructure, increasing risks to aircraft on the ground and during take-off and landing, and that the missile and drone attacks, together with the activation of air defence systems, create an increased risk of misidentification of civil aircraft and of falling debris14.

The bulletin recommends that operators stay out of two defined portions of Saudi airspace at all levels, exercise caution in the rest of the Jeddah FIR, keep an up-to-date risk assessment and a high level of contingency planning, and be prepared for short-notice instructions from the state authorities14. The FAA's KICZ A0056/26 advises US operators to exercise caution at all altitudes in the Jeddah FIR, including during arrival and departure, because of ongoing military activities and GNSS interference. It runs until 05:00 UTC on 10 December 202615.

How does an airline decide to suspend a route?

A CZIB shares information and gives recommendations to operators, who are asked to keep an up-to-date risk assessment and a high level of contingency planning in place14. ICAO Doc 10084 is a risk assessment manual with advice for states, aircraft operators and air navigation service providers on civil aircraft operations over or near conflict zones16. Lufthansa says in its update: "The Lufthansa Group is continuously monitoring and assessing the situation in the Middle East and is in close contact with the authorities"3.

Since the spring, KLM has announced each suspension with a fixed end date and then extended it repeatedly4. Airlines within the same group can also treat routes differently. Eurowings plans to return to Jeddah on 12 November, while the Lufthansa Group's Dammam flights stay suspended until 30 November3. For background, read how Riyadh Air moved its 787s out of Riyadh and how airlines weigh conflict-zone risk.

What it means for crews and rostering

EASA's guidance on flight time limitations describes how schedule changes reach crews. Under the acceptable means of compliance, rosters should be published 14 days in advance, although an operator may use an approved alternative17. Any change to a published roster must be notified to the crew member before the pre-flight rest period starts, so that the crew member can plan adequate rest18. On 26 October, five days before its previous end date of 31 October, KLM announced that its Riyadh and Dammam cancellations would run to 27 November4. Our guide to pilot work schedules and lifestyle explains how rosters are built.

For flight planning, the restrictions matter beyond the destination itself. Riyadh cannot be planned as a diversion airport under NOTAM A3651/268, EASA asks operators to be prepared for short-notice instructions14 and the FAA warns of GNSS interference in the Jeddah FIR15. Riyadh Air operates its remaining routes from Al Qassim, with a bus transfer from Riyadh that the airline says takes about four and a half hours13.

Pilots following recruitment in the region can find the Etihad, flydubai, Saudia and Riyadh Air profiles on PilotinQ, and current openings on our pilot jobs page.

Frequently asked questions

Is Riyadh airport open?

Partly. Since 25 October, Terminal 1 handles domestic flights and Terminal 2 international flights by Saudi national carriers7. Arrivals and departures need prior approval from GACA under NOTAM A3650/268.

Are flights to Jeddah operating?

Some are. Etihad restarts four flights between Abu Dhabi and Jeddah on 6 November and says its other Jeddah flights operate as scheduled1, and flydubai continues to fly to Jeddah2. Scoot has suspended its Singapore to Jeddah flights until 28 February 20276.

When does the EASA bulletin for Saudi Arabia expire?

CZIB-2026-09-R1 is valid until 16 November 2026, unless EASA reviews it earlier14.