Flights at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport are recovering after days of disruption, but passengers traveling through the Saudi capital still face airline-specific cancellations. Operations have resumed, while Etihad and flydubai continue to list affected services into the weekend of October 10–11.
The distinction matters for anyone heading to the airport: a return to normal airport operations does not mean every booked flight is running. Check the status of your exact departure and any onward connection before leaving for the terminal, especially if your journey involves Abu Dhabi, Dubai or another Saudi airport.
What Has Resumed at Riyadh Airport?
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said airport operations had resumed following two attacks on October 8, according to its statement carried by Argaam. The authority said the attacks targeted airport facilities and a Saudia aircraft, killing three Saudi nationals and injuring others.
Saudia said its flights and operations at King Khalid returned to normal from 6pm local time on Thursday, October 8. The airline said the damaged aircraft was parked with no passengers aboard, and that it was continuing to monitor schedules and contact passengers through its official channels.
For travelers, the recovery is a positive operational development, but it is still worth treating the airport-wide announcement and an airline’s individual timetable as separate pieces of information. Your flight number, travel date and direction of travel are the details that determine whether your own plans have changed.
Etihad’s Cancelled Flights on October 9–10
Etihad Airways lists eight cancelled services between Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and Riyadh in its travel update. Six are on Friday, October 9, with two more on Saturday, October 10.
| Date | Abu Dhabi to Riyadh | Riyadh to Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | EY551, EY555, EY559 | EY552, EY556, EY560 |
| October 10, 2026 | EY551 | EY552 |
The airline attributes the cancellations to operational disruption at Riyadh airport and warns that further changes remain possible. This is the published cancellation list at the time of writing; it should not be read as a guarantee that every other service will operate unchanged.
Other Airlines Still Have Restrictions
Flydubai has cancelled services to Riyadh and Yanbu through October 10 inclusive, and to Abha through October 11 inclusive, according to an airline update provided to The National. These are separate restrictions covering different airports, so a notice about Riyadh’s recovery does not resolve every Saudi itinerary.
Friday’s cancellations also included Emirates flight EK820 from Riyadh to Dubai. That underlines why passengers should rely on a fresh check of their booking rather than assume that a generally improving departure board applies to their airline or route.
As we have seen in our earlier coverage of Middle East disruption, airlines can adjust routes on different timelines. That earlier reporting provides background; the current carrier notice is the relevant reference for a journey this weekend.
What to Check Before Traveling
Etihad advises passengers to use its flight tracker and keep booking contact details current. Its cancellation guidance says customers will receive an email outlining available options, including rebooking an itinerary with a connecting flight.
If both connecting flights are operated by Etihad, the airline says it will manage the rebooking and show the revised details in Manage Booking. For a connection operated by another carrier, it advises contacting that airline for assistance.
Keep the latest airline message, booking reference and onward travel details together. If a revised arrival affects a hotel check-in, airport transfer or separately booked flight, contact that provider with the new itinerary rather than working from the original timetable.
Riyadh’s airport is operating again, but the practical message for this weekend remains simple: confirm your individual flight, follow the airline’s latest instructions and allow flexibility for further schedule changes.
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