RUH Update: Gulf Carriers Scrub Riyadh Flights Through Saturday; EASA Warning Runs to November 16

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 10, 2026 — Update to our October 9 story. King Khalid International Airport (RUH) is open and its delay numbers are improving, but Gulf carriers have cancelled more Riyadh flights through Saturday and Europe’s aviation safety warning for Saudi airspace now runs to November 16.

What changed since Friday

Gulf carriers cut Saturday flights. Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia and Qatar Airways all cancelled Riyadh services on Friday and Saturday. Emirates expects normal Riyadh operations from Sunday, October 11, Gulf Today reports.
The warning has an end date. The EU Aviation Safety Agency’s conflict zone bulletin covering Saudi Arabia is in force to November 16, Gulf News reports. On Friday its duration was not known.
Disruption is easing. Flightradar24 counted 44 cancellations (13%) and 63 delays (18%) at RUH between midnight and Friday morning, against 167 cancellations and 164 delays on Thursday, The National reports. FlightAware showed at least 124 Riyadh cancellations by Friday afternoon, according to the Associated Press.
More long-haul suspensions. Pakistan International Airlines has suspended Riyadh flights with no end date, the AP reports. Gulf News lists Air France as suspended through October 24 and Cathay Pacific through January 31, 2027.
Airport status: Saudia Group says operations have returned to normal. A U.S. security alert urges citizens in Saudi Arabia to stay alert to possible drone or missile attacks.

Airline by airline

Airline	Riyadh status	Through
Emirates	Dubai flights cancelled, including EK815, EK816, EK818, EK819 and EK820	Oct. 10; resumes Oct. 11
Etihad	EY551/552 and EY555/556 cancelled Saturday; EY559/560 scheduled to operate	Oct. 10; later dates TBA
flydubai	Riyadh and Yanbu flights cancelled; Abha flights cancelled one day longer	Oct. 10 (Abha Oct. 11)
Air Arabia	Sharjah flights G9151/152 and G9154/155 cancelled	TBA
Qatar Airways	Seven Doha round trips cancelled Friday and four on Saturday (QR1164/1165, QR1170/1171, QR1238/1239, QR1240/1241)	Oct. 10; later dates TBA
Air India	Suspended	Oct. 10
Lufthansa Group	Suspended	Oct. 16
Air France	Suspended	Oct. 24
Pakistan International	Suspended	TBA
Cathay Pacific	Suspended	Jan. 31, 2027

Qatar Airways gave “operational reasons” for its cancellations. Airlines say the situation is changing and more schedule cuts are possible.

What it means for non-revs

Riyadh is still a poor bet for standby. Every Gulf hub connection lost flights on Saturday, so the seats that do operate are filling with rebooked revenue passengers.
Sunday is the first test. Emirates plans a normal Riyadh schedule from October 11. Loads on the first restored flights will be heavy; check them before you list.
Do not count on European carriers. Lufthansa Group is out to October 16 and Air France to October 24, and the EASA bulletin runs to November 16. Interline options on those airlines will stay thin for weeks.
Connecting through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha or Sharjah: list only on flights shown as operating, and keep a backup that does not touch Saudi Arabia.
Weigh the safety picture. The U.S. alert remains in place. A non-rev stuck in Riyadh after a new airport halt has no rebooking priority.

Sources

Gulf Today, “UAE airlines cancel Saudi flights on October 9 and 10 amid Riyadh airport disruptions”: gulftoday.ae
Gulf News, “UAE Flight Status: Latest Updates on Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia Delays and Cancellations”: gulfnews.com
The Peninsula, “Qatar Airways cancels several Doha-Riyadh flights on October 9 and 10”: thepeninsulaqatar.com
The National, “Riyadh airport flights broadly back to normal after days of disruption”: thenationalnews.com
Associated Press via Fortune, “Authorities said Houthi-claimed attacks on Riyadh airport killed three Saudi citizens, as airlines suspend at least 124 flights”: fortune.com