Etihad and flydubai extend Riyadh flight cancellations amid Houthi airport attacks

Etihad and flydubai extend Riyadh flight cancellations

Published on Tuesday 13 October 2026 at 08:12 AM, updated at 12:42 PM, Dubai-based flydubai and Etihad Airways have cancelled flights to Riyadh until 19 October after the Saudi capital’s airport was closed following Houthi attacks.

Etihad’s national carrier has cancelled all flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, citing “regional disruption”, and also halted services between Abu Dhabi and Jeddah and Dammam until 14 October.

Flydubai said it expects disruption to its scheduled operations to Saudi Arabia, with flights to Abha, Dammam and Riyadh cancelled up to and including 19 October.

A flydubai spokesperson said: “We continue to monitor the situation closely and will update our customers through our official channels regarding any amendments to our flight schedules.”

The airline advised customers to check their flight status regularly and ensure their contact details are up to date so they receive the latest updates.

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Widespread disruption across Saudi airports

The extension follows days of disruption at Riyadh’s main airport. A Notam states that Riyadh airport will remain closed until 17 October, and the Saudi aviation authority has confirmed fresh injuries in an attack on Sunday. Houthi attacks have hit multiple airports across the kingdom, severely disrupting flights and forcing airlines to cancel services, suspend operations and warn passengers of further changes. Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport has been the hardest hit, with repeated attacks prompting operational suspensions and widespread cancellations. Airports in Jeddah, Dammam and other parts of Saudi Arabia have also been affected, and the Houthis have claimed responsibility for several strikes.

Air France suspends Dubai‑Riyadh services

Due to the regional situation, Air France has suspended its Dubai and Riyadh flights until 31 October. The French carrier said it was monitoring developments in the region in real time and had decided to extend the suspension of services to the two Gulf cities through the end of October. It added that affected passengers were being contacted individually and would be informed about the arrangements for their journeys.

Passenger advice and monitoring

Travellers have been advised to check flight status directly with airlines before heading to airports, as further cancellations and schedule changes remain possible while carriers assess security conditions and await updates from aviation authorities. Etihad urged passengers to check the latest status of their flights at etihad.com and confirm their booking status before travelling to the airport, noting that they can contact the airline through the help section of its website, which lists local phone numbers, live chat and social media accounts.