RUH Update: Riyadh Closure Notice Runs Out Tonight as Indian Airlines Push Saudi Cancellations to Oct. 24

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, October 17, 2026 — Update to our October 15 story. The notice keeping King Khalid International Airport (RUH) closed is due to run out at 21:00 UTC tonight, October 17 (midnight in Riyadh), but no reopening has been announced. Meanwhile India’s big airlines have pushed their Saudi cancellations out to as late as October 24, and Australia has told its citizens not to travel to Saudi Arabia.

What changed since our last update

Closure notice ends tonight, reopening TBA: NOTAM A3604/26, published October 12, keeps RUH closed until 21:00 UTC on October 17. AeroCorner found no word from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) as of Saturday morning on whether flights will restart, and notes that GACA can simply issue a new notice. A U.S. Embassy alert dated October 16 said GACA had extended the suspension through October 17.
Indian airlines extend: On October 15 and 16, Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and Akasa Air moved their cancellation dates past the notice (see table). Most now cover Jeddah and Dammam as well as Riyadh.
Etihad extends: Gulf News reports Abu Dhabi–Riyadh and Abu Dhabi–Dammam are cancelled through Sunday, October 18, with some Abu Dhabi–Jeddah flights out through October 18 or 19.
Scale: On October 15, 298 of 366 scheduled Riyadh departures (81.4%) were cancelled or did not fly, Gulf News reports. All eight of Emirates’ scheduled Saudi departures that day were cancelled or did not operate.
Tighter government advice: On October 16 Australia’s Smartraveller raised Saudi Arabia to “do not travel.” India’s embassy in Riyadh told travelers, including Umrah pilgrims, to expect disruption and suggested routings via Bahrain, Kuwait or Qatar where visas allow. The U.S. advisory stays at Level 3, “reconsider travel.”
Background: A Saudi-led coalition spokesman said on October 15 that the Houthis have carried out 20 attacks on King Khalid since October 1. Attacks on airports across the kingdom have killed 19 people and injured 364, he said.

Latest reported cancellations

Airline	Saudi cities	Cancelled through
Air India	Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah	Oct 20
Air India Express	Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah	Oct 20
IndiGo	Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah	Oct 24 (inclusive)
Akasa Air	Riyadh	Oct 24
Akasa Air	Jeddah	Oct 21
Etihad	Riyadh, Dammam; some Jeddah	Oct 18 (some Jeddah Oct 19)
flydubai	Riyadh, Dammam, Abha and nine other Saudi points	TBA
Air Arabia	Riyadh, Abha, Dammam, Jeddah, Jizan, Tabuk (from Sharjah)	TBA

Air India is offering full refunds; Air India Express offers free rescheduling or a refund; Akasa offers a refund within seven days or a free change. Saudia is still flying to India from Dammam, Jeddah and Madinah, and the U.S. Embassy says Jeddah and Dammam airports are open with some delays and cancellations.

What it means for non-revs

Treat tonight’s deadline as a review point, not a reopening. Until GACA announces a restart, do not list for Riyadh.
Even after RUH reopens, many carriers will not be back right away. The Indian airlines are out until October 20–24, and several others have published dates into November and beyond.
Jeddah and Dammam are open but thinner. Saudia is still operating there, but Indian, Emirati and Sharjah carriers have cut flights to those cities too, so standby seats on the remaining flights will be scarce.
Expect heavy loads through Gulf hubs. Passengers being rebooked around Saudi Arabia are moving through Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Check your own government’s advice and your employer’s travel policy before any trip to the kingdom; U.S. government staff need special authorization to use any Saudi airport.