Etihad extends Saudi flight suspension through 24 October as security concerns persist

Etihad Airways has prolonged the cancellation of all services between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia’s three largest gateways—Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam—until at least Saturday, 24 October 2026. The carrier disclosed the extension in a schedule alert on 21 October, following drone interception reports over Riyadh earlier in the day. Corporate clients were advised to re-book travel via Bahrain or Kuwait, but seat availability is tightening; TMCs report economy-class fares on the AUH-BAH-RUH corridor have doubled to AED 3,500 one-way. Cargo capacity is also squeezed, with perishables traders scrambling for cooler truck lanes across the Ghuwaifat land border. Etihad is offering fee-free date changes or refunds, yet warns that re-issued tickets may price higher if the original fare class is unavailable. The airline’s travel-waiver now covers partners Air France-KLM and Virgin Australia, meaning affected passengers can request alternative routings on those networks. Companies with ongoing projects in the Kingdom must revisit duty-of-care protocols: ground security briefings are now compulsory for staff overnighting in Riyadh, and insurers are reassessing premium surcharges for high-risk travel. As geopolitical jitters show no sign of abating, contingency budgeting is becoming a board-level discussion.