flydubai Keeps Riyadh and Abha Off Until Nov. 17, Plans December Return to Riga, Salzburg and Vilnius

DUBAI, Nov. 10, 2026 — flydubai has extended its suspension of flights to Riyadh and Abha through Nov. 16 and plans to restart them on Nov. 17. A planned Nov. 10 restart to Dammam did not happen. The carrier is also set to return to three European cities in December.

Saudi Arabia

Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport has only partly reopened after Houthi strikes in October, and more than 25 airlines have suspended or cut Saudi service. Gulf News reported that flydubai’s Dammam flights FZ883, FZ869, FZ863 and FZ867 were cancelled on Nov. 10, the day service was due to resume. No new Dammam date has been published (TBA).

Back to Europe in December

aeroTELEGRAPH reports that flydubai will fly Boeing 737s three times a week to Riga from Dec. 11 and to Salzburg and Vilnius from Dec. 12. All three routes will carry the Emirates code.

ADVERTISEMENT

Separately, the UAE’s aviation regulator has suspended Iranian airlines Iran Airtour, Caspian and Karun from UAE airports until further notice.

What it means for non-revs

• Don’t plan on flydubai to Riyadh, Abha or Dammam before Nov. 17. Restart dates have already slipped once, so check again the day before you travel.
• The first flights after each restart will carry passengers rebooked from cancelled flights. Standby chances on Nov. 17–19 are likely to be poor.
• Etihad’s Riyadh and Dammam flights are also off until Nov. 19, so there is no easy backup from Abu Dhabi.
• The December Riga, Salzburg and Vilnius flights are small 737s at three a week. Seats will be limited around the holidays and Salzburg’s ski season.

Sources

• Gulf News: UAE flights status update: Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia cancellations and delays for November 10
• aeroTELEGRAPH: Flydubai nimmt Flüge nach Salzburg wieder auf – auch Rückkehr nach Riga und Vilnius
• Time Out Riyadh: Airlines extend flight cancellations at Riyadh Airport