Qatar Airways suspends flights to Riyadh and Dammam
The airline cites the security situation in Saudi Arabia and gives no end date.
Follow-up to: New attack also hits Dammam airport Monday, 12 October 2026, 02:26
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Qatar Airways is temporarily suspending all flights to Riyadh and Dammam. The airline says it is monitoring the situation in Saudi Arabia with the authorities, after attacks on airports disrupted air traffic in the country for several days.
The Qatari airline announced the suspension in a travel alert. Passengers with an affected booking will be contacted directly, according to Qatar Airways. The airline also refers travellers to its website and app for the current status of their flight.
Qatar Airways has given no date for the services to resume. The measure applies to flights to and from both Saudi cities. The disruption therefore affects not only Riyadh airport but also Dammam airport, an important aviation hub for eastern Saudi Arabia.
The move follows a series of attacks on Saudi airports. According to Reuters, Riyadh airport remained closed on Monday and many flights were cancelled across the country. Aviation analyst Cirium expected around 60 per cent of scheduled flights in and around the Saudi capital not to operate.
Accounts of responsibility for the attacks do not entirely diverge. Yemen's Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for several attacks. Saudi Arabia and the coalition led by the country also attribute the attacks to the Houthis, but independent verification of all claims is limited.
Other airlines have also adjusted their schedules. Reuters reported that Lufthansa had cancelled flights to Riyadh through 16 October and that Air France-KLM had extended the suspension of flights to the Saudi capital. The precise measures vary by airline and destination.
The consequences for travellers may therefore still change. A temporary suspension may be extended, but it may also be reversed once aviation authorities and airlines deem the safety of airports and approach routes sufficient. Qatar Airways has not said which alternative routes or refund arrangements apply to individual passengers; for these, the airline refers passengers to their booking and customer service.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam.
- The airline has not given a date for resumption.
- Attacks on Saudi airports have disrupted air traffic.
- The Houthis have claimed responsibility for attacks; Saudi Arabia also attributes them to the group.
Left
Arguments The first responsibility is to protect civilians and de-escalate. From this perspective, diplomatic channels and regional negotiations should take precedence over further military escalation, because attacks and counter-attacks primarily affect civilians and civil infrastructure.
Values International law, the protection of civilians and restraint in the use of military force.
Consequences A temporary suspension of flights is understandable as long as safety cannot be guaranteed, but prolonged disruption may increase the humanitarian and economic consequences of the conflict.
Centre
Arguments An airline must make operational decisions based on risk assessments by the authorities and its own safety procedures. The institutional approach is therefore to suspend flights temporarily, share information and resume services once verifiable safety conditions have been met.
Values Proportionality, expert decision-making and the continuity of essential connections.
Consequences A temporary measure limits risks, but uncertainty about its duration calls for clear communication and protection for stranded travellers.
Right
Arguments Attacks on airports are an attack on sovereignty and international security. From this perspective, credible deterrence is needed so that armed groups cannot paralyse civil aviation for an extended period.
Values National security, the maintenance of order and the accountability of those responsible.
Consequences Resuming services too quickly could expose travellers to unacceptable risks, but excessive restraint could, in this view, invite further attacks.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article's core claim, the temporary suspension of flights to Riyadh and Dammam, was confirmed by Qatar News Agency and The Peninsula. The context concerning the broader flight disruptions and the differing attribution of the attacks is based on Reuters and AP and has been carefully presented as statements, not as independently established facts.
- confirmed Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam. — Confirmed in the travel alert published by Qatar News Agency and The Peninsula. source
- confirmed Qatar Airways has given no end date for the suspension. — The Peninsula reports that the airline did not specify its duration. source
- confirmed Riyadh airport remained closed on Monday and many flights were cancelled. — Reported by Reuters in a report dated 12 October 2026. source
- confirmed The Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for several attacks and Saudi Arabia attributes those attacks to the movement. — AP describes both the Houthis' claims and the attribution by Saudi authorities and the coalition. source
- confirmed Lufthansa cancelled flights to Riyadh through 16 October and Air France-KLM extended the suspension. — Both measures are mentioned in the Reuters report on the consequences for aviation. source
Editor's note
Qatar Airways' suspension and the absence of an end date were directly confirmed by the airline through QNA. The broader disruption to Saudi air traffic was reported by Reuters and AP; responsibility for the attacks remains based on statements by the parties involved and has not been fully independently established.Sources
- Qatar Airways Temporarily Suspends Flights to Riyadh, Dammam — Qatar News Agency
- Qatar Airways temporarily suspends flights to Riyadh and Dammam — The Peninsula Qatar
- Saudi Arabia faces new missile and drone fire after major attacks on airports — Reuters
- Saudi airport passenger terminal is struck again, a day after 12 were killed — Associated Press
The story so far
- Friday, 9 October 2026, 13:42 Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport kill three
- Saturday, 10 October 2026, 05:43 Saudi Arabia launches offensive against Houthis
- Saturday, 10 October 2026, 18:48 Riyadh Airport attacked again, flights cancelled
- Saturday, 10 October 2026, 23:45 More wounded in attack on Riyadh airport
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 05:44 New attack on Riyadh airport claims twelve lives
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 12:46 Riyadh keeps airport closed after deadly attack
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 15:58 Report: child killed after Saudi strike on Sanaa
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 16:28 Trump considers US role in Saudi attacks
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 18:04 Projectile hits passenger terminal in Riyadh again
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 21:27 A projectile also lands near Dammam airport
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 23:27 Fresh attacks on Saudi Arabia raise risk of regional war
- Monday, 12 October 2026, 01:26 New attack on Riyadh airport kills one
- Monday, 12 October 2026, 02:26 New attack also hits Dammam airport
- Monday, 12 October 2026, 19:58 Saudi Arabia investigates failed defences after airport attack
- Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 02:26 Saudi Arabia halts warnings of new attacks
- Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 02:56 Qatar Airways suspends flights to Riyadh and Dammam (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „qatar airways”
- AD — „qatar airways”
- de Volkskrant — „qatar airways”