Travellers on several international routes were impacted by 21 cancellations and 1 delay at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh today. The most affected carriers were Qatar Airways (9 cancellations) and IndiGo (7 cancellations), followed by KLM (2 cancellations), Air France (1 cancellation), Air India (1 cancellation), and Saudia (1 cancellation). Etihad Airways also reported one delay. Travel between Saudi Arabia, India, Qatar, the Netherlands, France, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates was disrupted by flights connected to major international hubs, such as Hamad International Airport, Indira Gandhi International Airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Kempegowda International Airport, and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
The disruptions coincide with broader aviation instability in the Middle East that is connected to the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.
Routes connecting Riyadh with Doha, Delhi, Mumbai, Amsterdam, Paris, and other international cities were disrupted by 21 cancelled flights and one delayed flight at King Khalid International Airport.
Middle East flights resume gradually as Emirates Etihad and Qatar Airways reopen key travel routes
With nine cancellations Qatar Airways was the airline most impacted by today’s disruptions.
Travel between Saudi Arabia and India was severely impacted by IndiGo’s subsequent seven flight cancellations.
Connections throughout Europe South Asia, and the Middle East were impacted by the cancellations of KLM, Air France, Air India, and Saudia.
The only delay which affected a flight connected to Abu Dhabi was reported by Etihad Airways.
Hamad International Airport in Doha was one of the most affected hubs, with multiple Riyadh-related connections cancelled.
Airlines Most Affected by Delays and Cancellations of Flights
Airways of Qatar
Of all the airlines using King Khalid International Airport today, Qatar Airways had the most cancellations with nine. Routes that connect to Hamad International Airport, a significant international hub that connects travellers to locations throughout Asia, Europe, and Africa, were severely impacted by the disruptions.
Passengers travelling between Saudi Arabia and major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad were impacted by seven IndiGo cancellations. One of the most popular routes connecting South Asia and the Gulf region was affected by the cancellations.
Two flights were cancelled, according to KLM, which affected connections between Riyadh and Amsterdam via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, a major hub for European aviation.
Air France
Travellers on routes connected to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, one of the busiest airports in Europe, were impacted by Air France’s one cancellation.
Air India
Passengers travelling between India and Saudi Arabia were further disrupted by Air India’s one cancellation.
The airline Etihad
Travellers using Zayed International Airport were impacted by Etihad Airways’ report of one delayed flight.
What actions can impacted passengers take?
- Use mobile apps or airline websites to frequently check the status of your flights.
- For travel updates or rebooking options, get in touch with airline customer service.
- To give yourself more time for schedule adjustments, get to the airport early.
- Keep an eye out for airline notifications about alternate flights or travel assistance.
- In the event that a rebooking is necessary, keep travel documents and booking information on hand.
An Overview of Flight Interruptions
Routes connecting Saudi Arabia with Qatar, India, Europe, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates were impacted by cancellations and delays at King Khalid International Airport today.
Among the affected airlines were Qatar Airways, IndiGo, KLM, Air France, Air India, Saudia, and Etihad Airways.
Hamad International Airport in Doha, Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Amsterdam, and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris were among the major international aviation hubs that experienced disruptions connected to Riyadh.
Routes between Riyadh and Doha were among the most disrupted, according to the pattern of cancellations, and several flights that connected Saudi Arabia with major Indian cities were also cancelled. The disruption’s extensive geographic reach was demonstrated by the fact that connections to important European hubs like Amsterdam and Paris were also impacted.
Key cities affected by the disruption included Riyadh, Doha, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Passengers using King Khalid International Airport and other major international aviation hubs connected to the Saudi capital were affected, as were travel flows throughout the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe.
