Air travel in Saudi Arabia continues to face significant disruption in October 2026 after the General Authority of Civil Aviation extended the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The situation has affected domestic and international passengers, including expatriates, residents, and travelers with scheduled flights to or from the Saudi capital.

The aviation authority announced the extension on Monday, October 12, explaining that additional procedures were required to verify the safety of airport facilities and confirm their operational readiness. The measures are being carried out in coordination with the relevant authorities following attacks that disrupted airport operations.

According to a Notice to Airmen reported by Reuters, the airport is scheduled to remain unavailable for regular operations until 21:00 GMT on Saturday, October 17, 2026. This corresponds to midnight at the beginning of Sunday, October 18, in Saudi Arabia.

However, the published aviation notice should not be interpreted as a guaranteed reopening announcement. Saudi Arabia’s aviation regulator has not confirmed that all operations will automatically resume at the end of that period, and any restoration of services remains dependent on safety assessments and the necessary operational clearances.

The disruption has prompted airlines from several regions to cancel flights, suspend routes, and revise travel schedules. Individual carriers have announced different suspension periods, meaning that passengers must check the specific arrangements made by the airline operating their booking.

Among the reported developments, Air France and KLM have extended the suspension of services to Riyadh through the end of October. Other airlines have adopted different schedules, and some have announced additional restrictions affecting destinations elsewhere in the region.

For expatriates and residents planning to travel from Riyadh to their home countries, or return to Saudi Arabia after a visit abroad, the most important precaution is to confirm their flight status directly with the airline before leaving for the airport. An existing ticket or booking confirmation does not necessarily mean that the flight will operate.

Passengers with connecting flights should also review their entire itinerary. A cancellation or schedule change on one segment may affect onward connections, accommodation arrangements, and other travel plans. Airlines or booking agents should be contacted to discuss available rebooking, rerouting, or refund options under the applicable conditions.

Other Saudi airports, including King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, continue to handle flights, although some services may still experience disruption or changes resulting from airline operational decisions. Travelers considering alternative routes should verify the availability of each flight before making arrangements.

Passengers are advised to follow official announcements from the General Authority of Civil Aviation and their airlines rather than relying on unverified reopening dates circulating online. Further changes remain possible as authorities complete the required safety checks and determine when normal airport operations can safely resume.

Source: Saudi Press Agency (SPA)