Airlines Suspend Saudi Flights After Dammam Airport Attack

International airlines have suspended flights to Saudi Arabia following an October 21 attack at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The assault killed two people and injured eight others.

While the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport stated that airport operations resumed and traffic returned to normal by October 22, disruptions persist across multiple carriers. Suspension timelines vary significantly. KLM and SalamAir listed cancellations through October 31, while Lufthansa extended suspensions through November 18 and Philippine Airlines through November 29.

Longer-term disruptions affect major hubs. Cathay Pacific canceled passenger flights to Riyadh through January 31, 2027. Delta Air Lines postponed the October 23 launch of its Atlanta-Riyadh service, rescheduling the start for March 2027. Other carriers, including Qatar Airways and Air Arabia, suspended services without announcing specific restart dates.