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Thousands of Passengers across Saudi Arabia in Severe Travel Crisis amid US-Israel Strike on Iran, as Airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah Face 324 Flight Delays and 279 Cancellations, Impacting Saudia, Gulf Air, FlyDubai, Etihad Airways and Several other Carriers, New Update
A significant travel crisis has been triggered across the Middle East following military strikes involving the US and Israel, resulting in unprecedented disruption to civil aviation within Saudi Arabia. As regional airspaces face sudden closures and restrictive safety protocols, the Kingdomβs primary aviation hubs have reported a staggering surge in flight irregularities. On this day of heightened geopolitical tension, a total of 279 cancellations and 324 delays have been recorded across the nationβs four most critical international gateways. The scale of the disruption has left thousands of passengers stranded, with terminals in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah struggling to manage the overflow of affected travellers. Major regional and international carriers, including Saudia, Gulf Air, FlyDubai and Etihad Airways, have been forced to suspend operations or drastically alter flight paths to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
Major Airports Affected
The impact of the crisis is most acutely felt at King Abdulaziz International in Jeddah, which serves as the primary gateway for international pilgrims and a central hub for the national carrier. The airport has reported 110 cancellations and 123 delays, the highest figures among all affected sites. This volume of disruption is particularly significant given the airportβs role in facilitating both business and religious travel.
| Airline | Cancellations | % Cancellations | Delays | % Delays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudia | 45 | 12% | 42 | 12% |
| IndiGo | 14 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Gulf Air | 9 | 90% | 1 | 10% |
| FlyDubai | 6 | 60% | 2 | 20% |
| Etihad Airways | 6 | 75% | 0 | 0% |
| Emirates | 5 | 83% | 0 | 0% |
| Air India | 4 | 66% | 0 | 0% |
| Wizz Air Malta | 4 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Pegasus Airlines | 4 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Malaysia Airlines | 3 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Flynas | 3 | 1% | 36 | 19% |
| Wizz Air UK | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Wizz Air | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Akasa Air | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Scoot | 1 | 50% | 0 | 0% |
| flyadeal | 0 | 0% | 13 | 10% |
| Fly Jinnah | 0 | 0% | 1 | 16% |
| Air Astana | 0 | 0% | 1 | 100% |
| Lion Air | 0 | 0% | 1 | 12% |
| MEA | 0 | 0% | 3 | 75% |
| Air Cairo | 0 | 0% | 1 | 6% |
| Egypt Air | 0 | 0% | 1 | 5% |
| Nile Air | 0 | 0% | 2 | 50% |
| Oman Air | 0 | 0% | 2 | 25% |
| SalamAir | 0 | 0% | 3 | 75% |
| Pakistan International Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 16% |
| Royal Jordanian | 0 | 0% | 4 | 50% |
| Tunisair | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| Turkish Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 5% |
| Transavia France | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| AirAsia X | 0 | 0% | 1 | 100% |
| Air Arabia | 0 | 0% | 2 | 40% |
| Air Algerie | 0 | 0% | 1 | 25% |
| Daallo Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 20% |
| Eurowings | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
In the capital, King Khalid International in Riyadh has faced substantial operational hurdles, recording 84 cancellations and 89 delays. As the administrative heart of Saudi Arabia, the disruptions here have impacted a high concentration of diplomatic and corporate itineraries.
| Airline | Cancellations | % Cancellations | Delays | % Delays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudia | 25 | 9% | 25 | 9% |
| Emirates | 8 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| IndiGo | 8 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Gulf Air | 7 | 87% | 1 | 12% |
| FlyDubai | 6 | 60% | 2 | 20% |
| Etihad Airways | 6 | 75% | 0 | 0% |
| Flynas | 5 | 3% | 28 | 17% |
| Egypt Air | 3 | 50% | 0 | 0% |
| flyadeal | 2 | 1% | 13 | 11% |
| Philippine Air Lines | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Pegasus Airlines | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| KLM | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Air France | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| China Eastern | 1 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Qatar Airways | 1 | 7% | 0 | 0% |
| Pakistan International Airlines | 1 | 50% | 1 | 50% |
| SriLankan Airlines | 1 | 50% | 0 | 0% |
| Air India | 1 | 25% | 0 | 0% |
| Cathay Pacific | 1 | 50% | 0 | 0% |
| MEA | 0 | 0% | 3 | 75% |
| Air Cairo | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| Oman Air | 0 | 0% | 5 | 83% |
| SalamAir | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| Royal Jordanian | 0 | 0% | 3 | 50% |
| British Airways | 0 | 0% | 2 | 100% |
| Air China | 0 | 0% | 2 | 200% |
| China Southern Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 25% |
| Ethiopian Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
Further east, King Fahd International in Dammam has seen 64 flights cancelled and 71 delayed.
| Airline | Cancellations | % Cancellations | Delays | % Delays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudia | 14 | 30% | 10 | 21% |
| IndiGo | 10 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Etihad Airways | 8 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Emirates | 6 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Gulf Air | 5 | 83% | 1 | 16% |
| FlyDubai | 4 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Egypt Air | 3 | 37% | 3 | 37% |
| Pakistan International Airlines | 3 | 75% | 1 | 25% |
| KLM | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Oman Air | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Air India | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Pegasus Airlines | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Flynas | 1 | 1% | 30 | 40% |
| SriLankan Airlines | 1 | 50% | 0 | 0% |
| Air Arabia Egypt | 1 | 50% | 0 | 0% |
| Fly Jinnah | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| Nesma Airlines Egypt | 0 | 0% | 1 | 33% |
| flyadeal | 0 | 0% | 20 | 47% |
| SalamAir | 0 | 0% | 1 | 100% |
| Royal Jordanian | 0 | 0% | 3 | 75% |
Meanwhile, the Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah has reported 21 cancellations and 41 delays. While the numbers in Madinah are lower in comparison to Jeddah, the impact remains severe for those traveling for religious purposes.
| Airline | Cancellations | % Cancellations | Delays | % Delays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates | 4 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| IndiGo | 4 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| FlyDubai | 4 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Pegasus Airlines | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Etihad Airways | 2 | 66% | 0 | 0% |
| Wizz Air UK | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Gulf Air | 2 | 50% | 1 | 25% |
| Malaysia Airlines | 1 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Garuda Indonesia | 0 | 0% | 1 | 100% |
| flyadeal | 0 | 0% | 4 | 18% |
| Kuwait Airways Corporation | 0 | 0% | 1 | 100% |
| Flynas | 0 | 0% | 11 | 33% |
| Air Astana | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| Mauritania | 0 | 0% | 2 | 100% |
| Air Arabia | 0 | 0% | 1 | 25% |
| Air Cairo | 0 | 0% | 1 | 25% |
| Egypt Air | 0 | 0% | 1 | 11% |
| Oman Air | 0 | 0% | 4 | 100% |
| Fly OYA | 0 | 0% | 1 | 33% |
| Pakistan International Airlines | 0 | 0% | 4 | 80% |
| Qatar Airways | 0 | 0% | 1 | 16% |
| Royal Jordanian | 0 | 0% | 1 | 16% |
| Saudia | 0 | 0% | 2 | 6% |
| Turkish Airlines | 0 | 0% | 4 | 30% |
Impacted Airlines
The aviation sector in Saudi Arabia is currently navigating a complex logistical landscape. Saudia, the national flag carrier, has had to manage a vast number of these disruptions, particularly at its hubs in Jeddah and Riyadh. Regional partners such as Gulf Air, FlyDubai and Etihad Airways have also been heavily impacted, as their standard flight corridors often intersect with the now-restricted airspaces.
Low-cost carriers and other international airlines have not been spared. The sudden nature of the airspace closures meant that many aircraft were either grounded at their points of origin or diverted to alternative landing sites outside the immediate conflict zone. This has created a βdomino effect,β where a single cancellation in Dammam or Madinah leads to crew shortages and scheduling conflicts across entire networks.
Probable Impact on Local Tourism
The ongoing crisis is expected to have a noticeable effect on the local tourism sectors of the involved cities. Saudi Arabia has been aggressively promoting its Vision 2030 goals, aiming to become a global tourism powerhouse. However, widespread disruptions in Riyadh and Jeddahβthe two most visited cities for business and leisureβmay lead to a temporary decline in international arrivals.
In Madinah and Jeddah, the impact on religious tourism is of particular concern. Many pilgrims rely on tight schedules to perform their rituals and the 279 cancellations recorded today represent a significant hurdle for those currently in transit. While the holy sites remain open and operational, the difficulty in reaching them may deter short-term visitors.
Furthermore, the hospitality and retail sectors in Dammam and other transit points may experience a short-term surge in demand for emergency accommodation, followed by a potential slump as future bookings are reconsidered by cautious travellers.
What Affected Passengers Can Do Now
For those caught in this travel crisis, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia provides a clear framework of passenger rights. Under the updated GACA regulations, airlines are required to provide care and support during extended delays and cancellations, even those caused by extraordinary circumstances such as safety and security threats.
- Communication: Passengers should stay in constant contact with their airlines. In Riyadh and Jeddah, airport authorities have advised travellers to check their flight status digitally before heading to the terminal.
- Care and Refreshments: If a delay exceeds three hours, passengers are typically entitled to refreshments and meals. If an overnight stay is required due to a cancellation in Dammam or Madinah, airlines are generally obligated to provide hotel accommodation and transport.
- Refunds and Rebooking: According to GACA guidelines, if a flight is delayed for more than two hours, passengers have the right to request a full refund of the ticket price without any deductions. If the delay exceeds five hours, the flight can be treated as cancelled, allowing for further compensation claims or alternative routing.
- Documentation: It is vital for travellers to keep all boarding passes, receipts for out-of-pocket expenses and written communications from the airline. These will be necessary should a formal complaint be filed with GACA after the situation stabilises.
As the situation continues to evolve, the primary focus of all aviation authorities within Saudi Arabia remains the safety of the travelling public.
-Flight information provided is sourced from FlightAware.
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