Delta delays Riyadh launch as airport closure and flight suspensions widen
publishers 55articles 82first reported 8 Oct, 08:10 UTCdeveloping since 8 Oct · 21 editions
Delta Air Lines has postponed the launch of nonstop service between Atlanta and Riyadh until March 2027 after deadly Houthi attacks disrupted aviation in Saudi Arabia’s capital.
The route had been scheduled to begin Oct. 23 using an Airbus A350-900 and would have been the first nonstop commercial service between the United States and Saudi Arabia operated by a U.S. airline. Delta said it remained in contact with government and aviation partners and was committed to serving Saudi Arabia over the long term.
Saudi authorities extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport until Saturday, Oct. 17, to complete safety and operational-readiness procedures. The airport has been closed since a projectile struck a passenger terminal Saturday. CNA reported that attacks since then had killed 14 people and injured more than 300, while published casualty totals varied among outlets.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on the airport and said Monday that they had launched another ballistic missile toward it. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed a missile aimed at Riyadh but did not immediately confirm the Houthis’ claim that the airport was the target.
More than 2,000 flights to and from Riyadh had been canceled since Thursday, according to FlightAware data cited by CNBC. Etihad, Qatar Airways, IndiGo, Air India and several European and Gulf carriers were among airlines suspending or canceling Saudi services. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration advised American carriers to exercise caution in and around Saudi Arabia because of military activity and navigation-related risks.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 120 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- Source articles
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- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 120 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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- Human review
- none
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