UAE Airlines Keep Riyadh and Dammam Flights Cancelled as Saudi Routes Stay Disrupted

The cancellations cut regular air links between the UAE and two of Saudi Arabia's main business centres, and because Etihad has stopped cargo as well as passenger flights, freight on those routes is affected too. The disruption follows another weekend in which Saudi Arabia reported fresh missile and drone threats. International aviation authorities also still have conflict-zone warnings in place for the Gulf, Iran and neighbouring airspace.

Emirates listed six cancellations for November 9 on its Dubai routes to Dammam and Riyadh, three on each route. It also cancelled one of its Jeddah flights, EK801, while two other Jeddah services were still scheduled. Flydubai has suspended Riyadh and Abha services until November 16, with flights listed from November 17, and plans to resume Dammam flights from November 10. It is still flying to Jeddah, Madinah, Gassim, Ha'il and Tabuk. Air Arabia has cancelled some Sharjah flights to Abha and Riyadh.

Etihad has restored some Jeddah services, which resumed on November 6. Fresh cancellations by Saudi carriers Flynas and Riyadh Air were also reported on Monday, along with delays to several international services at Dubai International Airport.

Airlines from outside the region are pulling back as well. IndiGo has cancelled flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until November 14. Air India and Air India Express have suspended Riyadh and Dammam services until the same date, and Akasa Air has suspended Jeddah flights until November 18.

Other restrictions linked to the conflict remain in place. Since September 24 the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority has suspended flights to and from the UAE by Iranian airlines, including Iran Airtour, Caspian Airlines and Karun Airlines, until further notice. Flydubai's Dubai-Tel Aviv flights are suspended while the investigation into the September 30 incident involving flight FZ1073 continues, and Emirates has also suspended its Tel Aviv service. Etihad still flies directly between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.

The next date to watch is November 17, when flydubai's Riyadh and Abha schedules are due to restart. Etihad's suspension of flights to Riyadh and Dammam runs two days longer, to November 19.