Etihad Extends Suspension of Flights to Riyadh, Dammam Until November 5

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has extended the suspension of flights to Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia until November 5 following attacks targeting the kingdom.

The airline announced the extension in a statement on Thursday, citing “operational disruptions” as the reason for keeping services to and from the two cities suspended.

Etihad initially suspended its flights to Riyadh on October 12, two days after a deadly attack on a passenger terminal reportedly killed 13 people.

The latest disruption follows another attack on Dammam airport on Wednesday evening, which left two people dead and eight others injured.

Although Dammam airport reopened the following day, the airport serving Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, remained closed, according to the report.

Etihad also announced changes to its services to Jeddah, a major city in western Saudi Arabia. The airline said it would operate only daytime flights to the city, while night services would remain cancelled until November 5.

The disruptions come amid an escalation in attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement against Saudi civilian infrastructure, including airports and oil facilities.

In recent weeks, the attacks have reportedly reached an unprecedented scale since the conflict in Yemen began in 2014, raising concerns about aviation safety and the security of critical infrastructure in the region.

The extended suspensions are expected to affect passengers travelling between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with travellers advised to check directly with their airline for the latest flight information before heading to the airport.