UAE airlines are keeping some Saudi Arabia routes suspended while operating others, with Etihad Airways listing passenger and cargo cancellations to Riyadh and Dammam through Nov. 19 as schedules vary by destination.
The change extends the airline's earlier Saudi flight suspensions, with the Riyadh and Dammam cutoff now listed as Nov. 19. Etihad's schedule showed EY601, EY602, EY603 and EY604, four Abu Dhabi-Jeddah services, scheduled to resume Nov. 6; its other Jeddah flights remained listed to operate as planned. The airline cautioned that further schedule changes were possible.
The National reported on Nov. 12 that Emirates flights between Dubai and Riyadh and Dammam were canceled through at least Nov. 13, while Jeddah had two daily flights and Madinah service was operating normally.
The same report said flydubai flights from Dubai to Riyadh and Abha were suspended without a confirmed restart date, while its Dammam route was canceled through at least Nov. 13. Emirates 24|7 reported Nov. 6 that a flydubai spokesperson said Riyadh and Abha flights had been canceled through Nov. 16, inclusive.
For Air Arabia, The National reported cancellations to Riyadh and Abha through at least Nov. 13, with Dammam and Taif services operating.
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said an Oct. 11 attack on King Khalid International Airport caused injuries and prompted damage assessments and safety inspections. GACA said the airport's operational suspension was extended the next day for safety checks. The Associated Press reported that a limited number of Saudi airlines had resumed domestic service there by Oct. 21 after receiving prior permission from authorities. The National reported on Nov. 12 that some domestic and international flights were operating.
The reported cancellations on several routes run through at least Friday, Nov. 13; Etihad lists its Riyadh and Dammam cancellations through Thursday, Nov. 19. Neither date states when the affected services will resume.
