Middle East Carriers Extend Saudi Arabia Flight Suspensions to Oct 24

Major regional carriers including Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and flydubai have officially extended the suspension of flights to several Saudi Arabian destinations through October 24, 2026. This decision follows a period of heightened regional instability and security assessments regarding airspace and airport operations in the Kingdom. While King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh has reopened with specific restrictions, airlines are maintaining a cautious stance to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

This disruption is not limited to total cancellations; Qatar Airways has also proactively reduced its flight frequency to Jeddah from seven daily services to four. The situation remains highly dynamic, with airlines emphasizing that schedules are subject to further change based on real-time security updates. This ripple effect impacts not only direct travel to Saudi Arabia but also transit passengers connecting through hubs like Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai.

Travellers with existing bookings to or from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Abha, and Yanbu are directly impacted by these schedule changes. Passengers connecting through Middle Eastern hubs who have Saudi Arabia as a final destination or a stopover point are also affected by the reduced capacity and service suspensions.

Makutet expects that airlines will continue to operate with a 'cautious-first' approach, likely extending these suspensions in rolling 48-to-72-hour windows until regional tensions demonstrably subside. We advise travellers to avoid booking non-refundable travel to the region for the remainder of October, as the risk of further schedule volatility remains high.