Etihad extends Saudi flight cancellations to Nov. 5 as UAE carriers suspend routes
Etihad has extended cancellations of all its flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, Dammam and some Jeddah services until Nov. 5, while flydubai and Emirates have suspended routes to the kingdom amid escalating attacks on Saudi airports.
Etihad Airways, the UAE's national carrier, has extended the cancellation of all its flights between Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and both Riyadh and Dammam, as well as four services between Abu Dhabi and Jeddah, until Thursday, Nov. 5, citing what it described as regional disruptions, as the list of canceled flights between the UAE and Saudi Arabia grows amid escalating attacks on Saudi airports.
Etihad: situation remains fluid
The Etihad cancellations include flights EY601 and EY603 from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah, and EY602 and EY604 on the return legs. The airline said in a statement that “the situation remains fluid and additional changes are possible,” urging passengers to check the status of their flights on its website and apologizing for the inconvenience caused by the disruption.
flydubai and Emirates
In Dubai, flydubai has canceled its flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Abha through Oct. 29 inclusive; a company spokesperson said the carrier expects “some changes to its scheduled flights to Saudi Arabia in light of the current situation.” Emirates has also canceled its flights between Dubai and Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah, while continuing services to Medina.
Saudi airports under pressure
These decisions come after a series of attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which was partially reopened to limited traffic after being closed following a strike on Oct. 10, and an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Early on Saturday, Saudi air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Yemen toward Riyadh and a drone over the Eastern Province.
Economic cost to the UAE
The suspension of services to the Saudi market, one of the most important travel markets for UAE carriers, adds fresh pressure on an aviation sector that has been affected by the war since late February.
At the national level, the International Monetary Fund said in its regional report released on Oct. 22 that it expects the UAE economy to contract by 3.9 percent this year, classifying the UAE and Saudi Arabia among the Gulf economies “least affected,” and saying the region could return to strong growth in 2027 if hostilities end and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz resumes.
What travelers can expect
Airlines advise travelers to check the status of their flights before traveling to the airport and are offering affected passengers rebooking or refunds. With the resumption of services tied to the security situation in the kingdom, announced dates remain subject to extension, meaning normal travel between the two countries could be delayed beyond early November.
