Etihad Keeps Riyadh and Dammam Flights Suspended Until November 19

The airline will at the same time bring back four flights on its Abu Dhabi to Jeddah route from Friday, November 6. Flights EY601 and EY603 will operate from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah, and EY602 and EY604 will operate in the other direction. Etihad said all other flights between Abu Dhabi and Jeddah will continue as scheduled.

Etihad said the situation remains fluid and further schedule changes are possible. It advised travellers to check their flight status on its website before travelling and to contact the airline about rebooking, alternative arrangements and refunds. The airline apologised for the disruption and said the safety of passengers and crew remained its top priority.

The reports did not say what specifically is causing the disruption on the Riyadh and Dammam routes. Emirates 24|7 referred to ongoing disruption to regional air traffic.

Why It Matters

Riyadh and Dammam are Saudi Arabia's capital and the hub of its Eastern Province energy industry. Both are heavily used business routes between the UAE and the kingdom, and the suspension also covers cargo. Companies whose staff and freight move between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia face at least two more weeks without Etihad's direct services on those routes, at a time when the regional conflict is already raising the cost of logistics and travel across the Gulf.

The partial Jeddah restart is the first sign in these reports of Etihad rebuilding its Saudi network. The airline has not said when the Riyadh and Dammam services might resume after November 19.