{
  "id": 14150739,
  "title": "Qatar Airways suspends Riyadh, Dammam flights as Saudi airport closure extended",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/qatar-airways-suspends-riyadh-dammam-flights-as-saudi-airport-closure",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T07:21:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/qatar-airways-suspends-riyadh-dammam-flights-as-saudi-airport-closure-extended-1.500708524"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dubai: Qatar Airways has temporarily halted flights to Riyadh and Dammam amid ongoing disruption to Saudi Arabia's aviation network following a series of attacks in the kingdom. The Qatari carrier warned passengers on Tuesday about the evolving situation in coordination with authorities, emphasizing the safety of its travelers as the utmost priority. Affected passengers will receive direct notifications, with further updates published on the airline's website.\n\nThe suspension follows the extension of King Khalid International Airport's closure in Riyadh, as the Saudi civil aviation authority aims to \"ensure the safety and operational readiness of the airport's facilities.\" The closure is set to continue until 2100 GMT on October 17, impacting a significant portion of the Gulf's travel. This move has triggered a cascade of flight changes and cancellations by airlines servicing the Saudi capital, disrupting travel across the Gulf region and beyond.\n\nThe deadly attacks, which began with an incident on Saturday that claimed 13 lives and left over 300 injured, have marked one of the most severe disruptions to Saudi aviation in years. Additional attacks on Sunday resulted in further casualties, escalating tensions and adding pressure to airlines already grappling with conflicts in the Middle East and soaring jet fuel costs. The broader impact of these incidents has transcended the Saudi carriers and Gulf airlines, prompting airlines in Europe and Asia to also suspend services.\n\nThe US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advised US carriers to exercise caution when flying to or over Saudi Arabia, while the European Union aviation safety organization (EASA) widened its warning covering Saudi airspace due to ongoing missile and drone attacks. For Gulf travelers, this disruption means that flights involving Riyadh and other Saudi destinations may continue to experience short-notice changes, as airlines respond to the evolving security situation and airport operating restrictions. Qatar Airways urged affected passengers to verify their flight status through their website or mobile application and await direct communication from the airline regarding any service disruptions.",
  "summary": "Dubai: Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam as disruption to Saudi Arabia’s aviation network continues following a series of attacks in the kingdom. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances The Qatari carrier issued a travel alert on Tuesday, saying it was closely monitoring developments in Saudi Arabia in coordination with the relevant…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "World : Qatar Airways Suspends Flights To Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, Dammam",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/world-qatar-airways-suspends-flights-to-saudi-arabias-riyadh-dammam",
        "published": "2026-10-13T02:53:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}