October 27, 2026 — Riyadh Air (RX) restarted a reduced schedule from its temporary base at Al Qassim on Sunday and says it will stay there “until further notice,” even though Riyadh’s main airport has partly reopened.
Update: NonRev Travel News reported the move to Al Qassim on October 24. What is new: flights restarted from Al Qassim on October 25, King Khalid International in Riyadh partly reopened over the weekend, and Riyadh Air is staying put.
What happened
Riyadh Air suspended operations after an October 10 Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport (RUH) killed 13 people. Houthi missile attacks on the airport this month have killed 18 people and injured more than 300, according to Airline Geeks. Europe’s aviation safety regulator has advised airlines to avoid the airspace around Riyadh and Dammam.
The airline restarted flights on Sunday, October 25, from Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport at Al Qassim (Buraidah), northwest of the capital. King Khalid partly reopened to passengers over the same weekend while repairs continue, but Riyadh Air has not moved back.
| Status | Routes |
|---|---|
| Operating from Al Qassim | Cairo, Dhaka, Jeddah, London Heathrow, Lahore, Islamabad |
| Suspended | Madrid, Manchester, Bangkok, Dubai |
| Return to Riyadh | TBA |
Getting there
Passengers can drive to Al Qassim or take a free coach from Riyadh. FlightGlobal reports the coach leaves from the InterContinental Durrat Al Riyadh hotel, where bags are checked in and sent on. The ride takes about 3.5 to 4.5 hours.
What it means for non-revs
- Build in a long ground leg. If you are flying Riyadh Air, plan for a coach ride of up to 4.5 hours each way between Riyadh and the airport.
- Only six routes are flying. With Madrid, Manchester, Bangkok and Dubai suspended, passengers from those routes will be squeezed onto other carriers or onto the remaining flights. Expect tight loads.
- Think twice about the region. With EASA warning airlines away from Riyadh and Dammam airspace, this is not the time for a discretionary trip. Check your own airline’s guidance before listing on any flight into Saudi Arabia.
- No return date. Riyadh Air has not said when it will go back to King Khalid.
Sources
- Airline Geeks — Riyadh Air Moves Flight Operations to New Airport
- FlightGlobal — Riyadh Air temporarily moves operations from Saudi capital to Al Qassim
- Aviation Week — Riyadh Air Drives Passengers To Al Qassim Airport Despite Riyadh Airport Reopening
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