The Federal Aviation Administration issued a caution directive to U.S. airlines regarding operations in or around Saudi Arabia following a series of attacks attributed to Yemen’s Houthi movement. The directive, which remains in effect until Dec. 10, advises pilots to exercise caution due to safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activities and navigation system concerns, noting that threats could affect aircraft at all altitudes.
The King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has remained closed as of Monday following strikes that began last week and intensified over the weekend. A projectile struck a passenger terminal at the airport on Saturday, resulting in at least 12 deaths and more than 300 injuries. The attack prompted numerous airlines to suspend flights to the facility, with some cancellations extending through the remainder of the week.
The security situation has prompted travel advisories from the United States, Australia, and other nations cautioning their citizens against visiting the region. Despite the current disruptions, commercial aviation to Saudi Arabia had been growing in recent years prior to these events. According to aviation-data firm OAG, the route connecting Riyadh and Jeddah in the western part of the country ranked as the fifth-busiest aviation corridor globally in the preceding year.
Most major U.S. carriers do not operate services to Saudi Arabia, though there have been recent expansions in this area. Delta Air Lines announced plans to launch its first nonstop service from Atlanta to Riyadh scheduled for Oct. 23 but postponed the inaugural flight to March in response to the current security conditions.
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