October 28, 2026 — KLM has scrapped its planned autumn return to Dubai and will not fly Amsterdam–Dubai again until at least late March 2027. Its Saudi Arabia flights to Riyadh and Dammam stay suspended until late November.
What happened
KLM cited continuing security concerns in the Middle East for dropping its planned restart. A spokesperson said the repeated postponements made it hard to set a reliable schedule and that KLM wants to use the aircraft on other routes. KLM has not flown to Dubai since the beginning of 2026.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Amsterdam–Dubai (AMS–DXB) | Suspended through March 27, 2027 |
| Amsterdam–Riyadh (AMS–RUH) | Suspended through November 27, 2026 (had been expected back in October) |
| Amsterdam–Dammam (AMS–DMM) | Suspended through November 27, 2026 (had been expected back in October) |
| Restart dates beyond these | TBA |
Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport halted operations on October 10 after a Houthi-claimed attack that killed 13 people, according to Reuters as cited by Aviation A2Z. It partly reopened on October 25, with Terminal 1 handling domestic flights and Terminal 2 handling international flights by Saudi carriers. That reopening does not automatically mean KLM will resume.
Other European carriers are also staying away: the Lufthansa Group has pushed its Dubai return to November 25, 2026. Lufthansa and SWISS had planned to restart on October 25 and Eurowings on November 1.
What it means for non-revs
- No KLM option to Dubai this winter. Anyone counting on KLM pass travel to reach Dubai needs another plan through at least March 27, 2027.
- Check your ZED/interline options with carriers that do fly to Dubai, and look at the current loads before you commit — with KLM and the Lufthansa Group both out, fewer European nonstops are available.
- Saudi Arabia: Riyadh and Dammam are off KLM’s schedule until at least November 27, and the Riyadh airport is only partly open. Avoid planning standby trips there until service is confirmed.
Sources
- Aviation A2Z: KLM Will No Longer Fly to Busiest International Airport in the World
- Aerocorner: KLM Drops Amsterdam-Dubai for the Whole Winter and Keeps Riyadh and Dammam Off Until November 27
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