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Qatar Airways issued a travel alert announcing the temporary suspension of flights to and from the Saudi cities of Riyadh and Dammam, according to the Qatar News Agency. The airline stated that it was closely monitoring developments in Saudi Arabia in coordination with relevant authorities. As a result of the current situation, flights to both destinations have been halted. The carrier stressed that the safety of passengers and crew remains its top priority.
The suspension follows Houthi attacks on two key Saudi airports, Xinhua reported. A Saturday Houthi strike on the Riyadh airport killed 12 people and injured 309 others, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation.
The aviation authority said it had extended the suspension of operations at the Riyadh airport. Qatar Airways has not indicated a resumption date for the suspended routes.
The airline called on passengers to check their flight status through its website or mobile application. Affected passengers will be contacted directly. Further updates will be shared on the carrier’s website as the situation develops. Qatar Airways reiterated that safety considerations drove the decision.
Other carriers have taken comparable measures amid the ongoing disruptions. Emirates and Etihad have canceled flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah in the initial days of the week, according to reports compiled by AeroCorner. Lufthansa Group suspended its services through October 16, with Air France and KLM extending their cancellations to October 24. British Airways plans to resume one daily flight only on November 3.
The attacks are part of an escalation that has seen multiple Saudi airports targeted. An Anadolu Agency tally placed the number of Houthi strikes on Saudi airports at 10 since October 5, affecting five facilities. These actions have killed a total of 20 people and injured hundreds while causing material damage and widespread flight cancellations.
The developments have led to Riyadh airport being ranked among the world’s most disrupted facilities on Monday. Dammam airport has continued operations despite delays and has received some diverted traffic. Passengers planning travel to Saudi Arabia are recommended to consult airline updates and government travel advisories before departure.
