The current state of aviation disruption is a direct consequence of attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, which prompted the closure of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Although the airport partially reopened on October 25, it continues to operate under strict restrictions. The physical infrastructure is back online, but the security environment has not yet stabilized enough for all carriers to resume full operations. As a result, the resumption of services is proceeding at varying paces, with some airlines cautiously testing the waters while others maintain extended suspensions until they can guarantee safety and operational viability.
Etihad Airways has adopted a tiered approach to its recovery. While its services to Riyadh and Dammam remain halted until November 19, the airline has moved to restore connectivity with Jeddah. Four daily services between Abu Dhabi and Jeddah—specifically flights EY601, EY603, and their return counterparts EY602 and EY604—were scheduled to resume on November 6. Etihad has stated that its other Jeddah flights will continue to operate as scheduled. This selective resumption suggests that the airline views the security situation over Jeddah as less volatile than that over the capital and the eastern port city of Dammam. However, the airline has advised affected customers to check their specific flight numbers, as the resumption of selected services does not guarantee that all itineraries are operating normally. Passengers are urged to contact the airline regarding rebooking or refund arrangements.
flydubai has followed a similar pattern of caution, extending cancellations for its Dubai–Riyadh and Dubai–Abha routes through November 16. A spokesperson for the carrier confirmed the extension on November 6, noting that the airline continues to monitor the situation and may make further changes. While flydubai’s booking system shows services to Riyadh and Abha as available for booking from November 17, and to Dammam from November 10, the airline has explicitly warned that a bookable flight is not a guarantee of operation. This distinction is crucial for travelers, particularly those connecting through Dubai for business, tourism, or religious visits, who must verify both legs of their itinerary to avoid being stranded.
In contrast, Emirates has indicated a more aggressive timeline for returning to service. The carrier resumed some flights from Dubai to Jeddah on October 30, with flight tracking data confirming operations on that date and again on November 5. For its routes to Riyadh and Dammam, Emirates has scheduled passenger flights to restart on November 8. However, the airline notes that the actual operation of individual flights remains subject to confirmation. This divergence in strategy between Emirates and its UAE-based rivals highlights the complex risk assessments being conducted in the sector. While Emirates may have secured the necessary security clearances or operational readiness to proceed, Etihad and flydubai appear to be exercising greater caution, potentially reflecting different internal assessments of the security landscape or different contractual obligations with ground handlers.
The disruption extends beyond the UAE, affecting international carriers with significant exposure to the Saudi market. Air Arabia, based in Sharjah, has suspended flights to Riyadh, Abha, Dammam, and Taif, with no restart date listed in its latest travel updates. It has also reduced the frequency of flights to Jeddah. Further afield, the impact is visible in the schedules of European and Asian carriers. British Airways, which had planned to restart its London Heathrow–Riyadh service on November 3, has pushed this back to January 11, 2027. The airline has also permanently discontinued its London–Jeddah service. KLM, Singapore Airlines, and Air France have also extended suspensions, reflecting a broader international hesitation to engage with the disrupted air corridors. Even Omani carriers are affected, with flights from Muscat to Riyadh scheduled to resume only on November 8, and cancellations to Dammam in place until November 30.
The economic and logistical implications of these staggered recoveries are significant. The suspension of routes to Riyadh, the capital, and Dammam, a key logistics hub, disrupts business travel and supply chains across the Gulf. Passengers connecting through major hubs like Dubai and Abu Dhabi face increased uncertainty, as the mismatch in schedules between partner airlines can lead to missed connections and stranded travelers. The fact that some Saudi domestic flights are being rerouted through Al Qassim or Dammam, with passengers continuing to Riyadh by bus, underscores the operational workarounds currently in place. This makeshift system, while functional, is inefficient and adds to the cost and complexity of travel in the region.
The situation remains fluid, with airlines advising passengers to check flight statuses before traveling. The extension of cancellations by Etihad and flydubai suggests that the security concerns that triggered the initial disruptions have not been fully resolved. While the physical reopening of the airport is a positive step, the return to normalcy in international aviation depends on a sustained improvement in the regional security environment. For now, the divergence in airline schedules serves as a tangible indicator of the uncertainty that still pervades the Gulf’s air travel networks. As November progresses, the industry will be watching to see if the cautious approach of the UAE carriers yields to the more optimistic timeline of Emirates, or if the security situation warrants further delays.
