Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program (ACP), in partnership with national carrier Saudia, is expanding seat capacity on several international routes during 2026 as the Kingdom seeks to strengthen connections with key global markets.

The additional capacity is intended to accommodate rising travel demand, improve access to Saudi Arabia and provide passengers with a wider range of flight options, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Connectivity between Saudi Arabia and China has been expanded through additional services on two routes.

The Guangzhou-Jeddah route will receive one additional weekly flight, increasing the frequency to four flights per week. The expanded service will provide more than 124,000 seats annually in both directions.

The Beijing Daxing-Riyadh route will also gain one additional weekly service, raising the frequency to three flights per week and increasing annual capacity to more than 93,000 seats in both directions.

Air links between Saudi Arabia and the United States have also been strengthened. Three additional weekly flights have been added to the New York-Jeddah route, increasing the total to seven weekly services and providing more than 211,000 seats annually in both directions.

The ACP said the expanded services form part of its continuing cooperation with Saudi national airlines to develop international routes and improve connectivity with priority markets.

The initiative is also aimed at attracting more international visitors, responding to growing passenger demand and offering travelers greater flexibility.

The program supports the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s National Tourism Strategy and Aviation Sector Strategy, which are aligned with the broader goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The Air Connectivity Program was established to support the expansion of Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry by strengthening links with international markets, developing existing routes and introducing new destinations.

The Kingdom aims to establish air links with 250 international destinations by 2030.

As an executive enabler of the National Tourism Strategy and Aviation Program, ACP works with government and private-sector partners across the tourism and aviation sectors to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading global tourism destination.

Source: TradeArabia

KLM is preparing to cancel selected flights over the coming months as delays in aircraft maintenance and repairs leave more aircraft unavailable than anticipated.

The cancellations will run from 26 October 2026 until early March 2027. The Dutch airline aims to keep additional long-haul aircraft available as reserves to reduce last-minute schedule changes and improve operational reliability.

A KLM spokesperson told Dutch broadcaster NOS that the aircraft shortage has been caused by unplanned maintenance requirements, damage repairs and scheduled maintenance work taking longer than expected. Delays in spare-parts deliveries have also contributed to the situation.

In some cases, KLM has been operating services with aircraft different from those originally scheduled.

The airline has not yet disclosed the number of flights that will be cancelled or identified the affected destinations.

KLM said it would select flights for cancellation based on minimising the impact on passengers and providing opportunities for rebooking. The approach is intended to deliver a more reliable schedule throughout the winter period.

Source: QCAA

Turkish Airlines carried 9 million passengers in September 2026, achieving an overall passenger load factor of 86.8%, according to its latest traffic figures.

The airline reported an international load factor of 86.6%, while domestic services recorded a higher rate of 88.2%.

Available seat kilometres (ASK), a measure of passenger capacity, rose 2.5% year-on-year to 24.6 billion in September, compared with 24 billion during the same month in 2025.

Cargo operations also posted significant growth. Combined cargo and mail volumes increased by 13% year-on-year to 205,700 tonnes during the month.

For the first nine months of 2026, Turkish Airlines transported 73 million passengers, marking a 5.2% increase from the corresponding period last year.

The airline's overall load factor reached 85% during the January-September period. International services recorded an 84.8% load factor, while domestic operations achieved 86.7%.

Passenger capacity, measured in ASK, expanded by 4.4% to 212.2 billion, up from 203.3 billion in the first nine months of 2025.

Cargo and mail traffic continued to grow, rising 10.6% year-on-year to 1.8 million tonnes, compared with 1.6 million tonnes during the same period a year earlier.

By the end of September 2026, Turkish Airlines operated a fleet of 567 aircraft.

The reported traffic figures are consolidated and cover operations under both the Turkish Airlines main brand and its subsidiary AJet.

Source: Trade Arabia News Service

Qatar Airways has announced the cancellation of additional flights scheduled for October 11, 2026, citing operational reasons, as disruptions affecting services between Doha and Riyadh continue.

The latest travel alert adds to previously announced cancellations affecting flights on October 9 and 10. The airline said it is continuing to monitor its operations and provide passengers with updated travel information through its official channels.

Three Flight Pairs Cancelled

The Qatar Airways flights cancelled for October 11 are:

• QR1170/1171
• QR1172/1173
• QR1236/1237

The cancellations affect services between Doha and Riyadh in both directions.

Qatar Airways said the safety of its passengers and crew remains its highest priority while it manages the operational situation.

Passengers Advised to Check Before Travel

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to check the latest information through the Qatar Airways website or mobile application.

Travellers are also encouraged to verify their individual flight status before heading to the airport, as further operational updates could affect scheduled services.

Qatar Airways has indicated that additional information will be provided through its official channels as the situation develops.

Further Updates Expected

The October 11 cancellations follow the airline’s earlier cancellation announcements for October 9 and 10. Information concerning services between Doha and Riyadh may be updated as Qatar Airways issues further notices.

Passengers are advised to rely on the airline’s latest official updates for changes to their flight schedules, booking arrangements and travel plans.

Dubai-based airline flydubai has cancelled flights to Riyadh and Yanbu until October 10, while services to Abha will remain suspended until October 11 as regional tensions continue to disrupt air travel in Saudi Arabia.

A flydubai spokesperson confirmed the cancellations, saying the airline was closely monitoring developments and coordinating with relevant authorities. The carrier said passengers would receive updates on schedule changes through its official communication channels.

The suspensions follow attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said on Friday that three Saudi nationals had been killed and several others injured in two separate attacks.

According to the authority, the first attack targeted airport facilities, while the second struck an aircraft operated by Saudia. Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the attacks. Airport operations subsequently resumed.

flydubai has advised affected passengers to visit the Manage Booking section of its official website, flydubai.com, to review available refund and rebooking options. Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents have been advised to contact their agents directly.

The airline apologised for the disruption and said it would continue to communicate relevant updates to passengers as the situation develops.

Source: Gulf News

DOHA — Qatar Airways has cancelled eight flights between Doha and Riyadh scheduled for October 10, citing operational reasons, as several other airlines announce cancellations affecting travel to the Saudi capital.thepeninsulaqatar+1

The Qatar Airways cancellations cover four return-flight pairs: QR1170/1171, QR1240/1241, QR1238/1239 and QR1164/1165. The airline said the safety of its passengers and crew remained its highest priority and advised travellers to check its website or mobile app for the latest flight updates.

Etihad Airways has also cancelled flights EY551 and EY552 between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh on October 10. The carrier cited operational disruptions at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and warned that further schedule changes were possible.gulfnews+1

Flydubai said its flights to Riyadh would remain cancelled up to and including October 10, according to a spokesperson quoted by The National..

Indian carriers Akasa Air and Air India Express have extended cancellations of flights to and from Riyadh until October 10, citing the evolving security situation. Akasa Air said affected passengers could choose a full refund or reschedule at no additional cost, while Air India Express offered complimentary rescheduling or a full refund.

Philippine Airlines has also cancelled its Riyadh–Manila return service scheduled for October 10, citing the developing situation in the region.

Some services remain scheduled

The cancellations do not amount to a complete suspension of flights to Riyadh. Air Arabia flights G9151 and G9154 were listed as operating as scheduled for October 10 in an October 9 report by Gulf News. Those listings remain subject to change.

Passengers booked to or from Riyadh are advised to confirm their flight status directly with their airline before travelling to the airport.