UAE carriers Etihad Airways and flydubai on Monday announced extended flight cancellations to several major cities in Saudi Arabia amid ongoing Houthi attacks targeting the Kingdom’s aviation infrastructure.
A spokesperson for Dubai-based flydubai confirmed that all flights to Abha, Dammam, and Riyadh have been cancelled up to and including Wednesday, October 14.
“We continue to monitor the situation closely and we will update our customers through our official channels regarding any amendments to our flight schedules,” the spokesperson stated. Affected passengers can manage rebooking or refund options via flydubai’s website, while those who booked through travel agents are advised to contact them directly.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways extended flight cancellations between Zayed International Airport and three Saudi cities—Dammam, Jeddah, and Riyadh—for Monday, October 12, and Tuesday, October 13, citing regional disruptions.
Affected Etihad Airways Flights:
- Monday, October 12:
- Dammam: EY575, EY573 (outbound) and EY576, EY574 (inbound).
- Jeddah: EY601, EY603 (outbound) and EY602, EY604 (inbound).
- Riyadh: EY559, EY555 (outbound) and EY560, EY556 (inbound).
- Tuesday, October 13:
- Dammam: EY575 (outbound) and EY576 (inbound).
- Jeddah: EY603 (outbound) and EY602, EY604 (inbound).
- Riyadh: EY551 (outbound) and EY552 (inbound).
Etihad noted that the situation remains dynamic and warned that further schedule adjustments are possible.
Aviation operations across Saudi Arabia have faced severe disruptions following consecutive Houthi strikes over the past week. Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport has been the hardest hit, alongside operational impacts extending to Jeddah and Dammam. Travellers are urged to verify their flight status directly with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.
