Delta Air Lines announced a delay in launching nonstop service between Atlanta and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, pushing back the planned October 23 debut to March. The route was set to operate with an Airbus A350-900 aircraft and would have represented the first nonstop commercial flight between the United States and Saudi Arabia operated by a U.S. carrier.
The postponement follows a series of attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. According to flight tracking data, more than 2,000 flights have been canceled to and from the facility since Thursday. The most severe incident occurred on Saturday when a projectile struck a passenger terminal, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 300 others. The attacks were claimed by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis. As of Monday, the airport remained closed to operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning to U.S. airlines on Sunday, advising pilots to exercise caution in or around Saudi Arabia due to safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activities and navigation system concerns. The warning remains in effect until December 10 and noted that threats could potentially affect aircraft at all altitudes. In response to the security situation, airlines suspended flights to the airport for varying periods, and several countries, including the United States and Australia, advised their citizens against traveling to the region.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated that safety considerations would determine the airline’s course of action, noting disappointment at the week’s developments. The company emphasized in a statement that Saudi Arabia remains strategically important and that it remains committed to serving the kingdom over the long term. Delta indicated it would continue monitoring the situation in coordination with government and aviation partners, including Saudia and Riyadh Air.
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