Saudi Arabia has extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh until Saturday, October 17, as heightened security concerns disrupt air travel and prompt international airlines to suspend or reschedule flights to the Kingdom's capital.

The extended suspension was announced by the country's civil aviation authorities to allow further assessments and safety procedures to be completed before airport operations resume. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued on Monday stated that the airport would remain closed until 2100 GMT on October 17.

The closure has affected one of Saudi Arabia's major international aviation gateways, forcing carriers from Europe, Asia and the Middle East to adjust their schedules amid reported missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi territory.

The security situation has also prompted aviation regulators in the United States and Europe to issue or strengthen warnings for airlines operating in Saudi airspace.

International Airlines Extend Flight Suspensions

Several international carriers have announced cancellations or postponed services to Riyadh, with some restrictions extending beyond the latest airport closure deadline.

According to a Reuters report, Lufthansa Group has cancelled all flights to Riyadh until October 16, while Air France-KLM has extended its suspension of services to and from the Saudi capital until the end of October.

Etihad Airways has cancelled flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam because of regional disruptions. The airline said services between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh would remain suspended until October 19.

Qatar Airways has also temporarily halted flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam, citing the prevailing situation.

Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines has postponed the planned launch of its Atlanta-Riyadh route from October 23 until March 2027, Reuters reported.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advised American carriers on Sunday to exercise caution when operating flights to or over Saudi Arabia. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) also expanded its warning concerning Saudi airspace on Friday, citing potential threats from missiles and drones.

Saudi Arabia Reports Missile Interceptions

The latest developments followed reports of further missile activity targeting Saudi Arabia.

Late on Monday, the Houthis claimed to have launched a ballistic missile towards King Khalid International Airport. The announcement came shortly after Saudi authorities reported intercepting and destroying a ballistic missile fired towards Riyadh.

Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, said two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi militia towards Khamis Mushait had been intercepted and destroyed.

The reported attacks have heightened concerns over the safety of civilian aviation infrastructure and the potential risks to aircraft operating in the region.

Saudi Minister Reaffirms Commitment to National Security

Saudi Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary has reiterated the Kingdom's determination to protect its territory, citizens, residents and critical infrastructure amid continuing security threats.

Speaking on Monday at the opening of the 37th government press conference in Riyadh, Al-Dossary condemned Houthi attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. He also expressed condolences to the families of those killed and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

The minister said Saudi Arabia remained committed to protecting its security, safeguarding its resources and continuing its development programmes despite the threats.

He stressed that protecting citizens and residents remained the government's highest priority, adding that the Kingdom had the capabilities and preparedness necessary to respond to aerial, missile and drone threats.

Al-Dossary also highlighted national unity and praised the efforts of security personnel and the armed forces in defending the country and its holy sites.

He said repeated attacks demonstrated the Houthi militia's disregard for international law and moral and religious principles, particularly when civilians and essential infrastructure were placed at risk. He added that Saudi Arabia would continue to respond firmly to threats against its security and stability.

Protection of Pilgrims and Religious Sites

Addressing concerns about attacks affecting religious sites, civilian areas and critical infrastructure, Al-Dossary said the evolving security environment required continued vigilance and preparedness.

He warned that attacks involving airports could endanger innocent travellers, including Umrah performers, pilgrims travelling to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and visitors to the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah.

Saudi airports serve large numbers of religious visitors throughout the year, making the protection of aviation facilities particularly important for both transportation and pilgrimage operations.

The minister said government agencies across the military, security, health and public service sectors were coordinating their efforts to ensure a comprehensive response to emergencies and protect the public.

He added that the Kingdom's heightened state of readiness should not be viewed as a cause for public alarm. Instead, he described it as part of preparations for different possible scenarios while maintaining security and allowing daily life to continue.

Source: TradeArabia

Discover Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, will expand its European network in summer 2027 with new nonstop routes connecting Germany to destinations in the UK and Ireland.

The carrier will begin operating flights between Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Glasgow (GLA) six times a week from March 2027. Additional routes from Frankfurt will follow over the subsequent months, with weekly flights to Shannon (SNN) in the Republic of Ireland starting in April, twice-weekly services to Bristol (BRS) from May, and weekly flights to Inverness (INV) from June.

Discover Airlines will also introduce a twice-weekly route between Munich (MUC) and Glasgow from May 16, 2027. The service was previously operated by Lufthansa's mainline operation.

All five new services will be operated using Airbus A320 aircraft and are expected to operate primarily during the summer season.

The expansion will mark Discover Airlines' first-ever operations to destinations in the British Isles.

The German leisure carrier has traditionally focused on destinations offering warmer climates in southern Europe and tropical regions. Its move into the UK and Ireland reflects a growing focus on leisure travel opportunities in areas such as the Scottish Highlands and the countryside of southwest England, with German tourists expected to form a key target market.

Discover Airlines was renamed in 2023 after previously operating as Eurowings Discovery, a separate brand from Lufthansa Group's low-cost subsidiary Eurowings.

The airline is currently pursuing a broader expansion programme and plans to grow its fleet to 40 aircraft by 2028. The planned fleet will consist of an equal split between widebody aircraft and Airbus A320 family aircraft.

Source: QCAA

Thai Airways International is set to relaunch nonstop daily flights between Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport (AMS) on July 1, 2026, marking the carrier's return to the Dutch market after nearly 28 years.

The service will utilize modern Airbus A350-900 aircraft as part of Thai Airways' Northern Summer 2026 schedule, with bookings now open following an announcement in early 2026.

This revival restores a historic long-haul link between Southeast Asia and Europe, last operated by Thai Airways in 1998 before the airline withdrew from the Netherlands.

The move aligns with Thai Airways' strategy to expand its European network amid post-restructuring growth, boosting tourism, business travel, and cultural ties between Thailand and the Netherlands while enhancing competition on the route.

By adding this daily connection, Thai Airways aims to strengthen overall Thailand-Europe connectivity, complementing partnerships like codeshares with carriers such as TAP Air Portugal for broader reach.

The resumption reflects confidence in demand from the Benelux region and supports the airline's long-haul ambitions.

flydubai has announced the launch of a new double-daily service to Bangkok, further strengthening its footprint in Thailand and increasing its total operations to the country to 28 weekly flights.

The new route will commence on 15 September 2026, operating from Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). The addition of Bangkok marks the airline’s second destination in Thailand, complementing its existing service to Krabi.

With this expansion, flydubai continues to enhance its network in Southeast Asia, which also includes destinations such as Langkawi and Penang in Malaysia. The carrier’s growing regional presence reflects sustained passenger demand for travel between Dubai and key leisure and business markets across Asia.

Don Mueang International Airport, located north of central Bangkok, serves as one of the Thai capital’s two international gateways. Its strategic location provides convenient access for both corporate and leisure travellers visiting Bangkok and surrounding provinces.

Commenting on the launch, Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said:

“Thailand continues to be a highly popular destination for both leisure and business travel. The introduction of our double-daily Bangkok service reflects strong and consistent demand across our network. Operating from Terminal 3 at Dubai International and under our codeshare partnership with Emirates, passengers will benefit from seamless connections via Dubai to destinations across the GCC, Europe and other international markets.”

The new service further reinforces Dubai’s position as a leading global aviation hub. flydubai’s network now extends to more than 135 destinations, offering customers expanded travel options and convenient one-stop connectivity.

Sudhir Sreedharan, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations at flydubai, added:

“We are pleased to expand our presence in Thailand with the launch of double-daily flights to Bangkok. We look forward to welcoming passengers on board and providing a comfortable and reliable travel experience in both Economy and Business Class.”

As part of its continued investment in customer experience, flydubai offers thoughtfully designed cabins across both classes. Passengers can enjoy comfortable seating, internationally inspired dining options and a wide selection of inflight entertainment available through the airline’s onboard system.

Flight Schedule (All Times Local)

From 15 September 2026, flydubai will operate the following services between Dubai and Bangkok:

• FZ1335: DXB 11:00 – DMK 20:45

• FZ1336: DMK 23:50 – DXB 03:20

• FZ1345: DXB 01:20 – DMK 11:10

• FZ1346: DMK 12:10 – DXB 15:40

Fares

• Return Business Class fares from DXB to DMK start from AED 9,000, while Economy Class Lite fares start from AED 2,500.

• From DMK to DXB, return Business Class fares start from THB 64,000, and Economy Class Lite fares from THB 22,000.

Flights are available for booking via flydubai.com, the official flydubai mobile application, the UAE Contact Centre, flydubai travel shops and authorised travel partners.

Xiamen Airlines will resume its direct flights between Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport in Fujian and Mactan–Cebu International Airport in the Philippines starting 29 March 2026. The twice-weekly service will operate every Tuesday and Saturday using Boeing 737-800 aircraft, featuring eight business-class and 162 economy seats. The flight takes just under three hours.

The move, announced on 14 February, follows recent bilateral talks that granted new traffic rights and improved ground-handling support ahead of the summer season. The reinstated route reconnects Quanzhou—a major manufacturing hub for shoes, garments, and stone products—with Cebu, the commercial heart of the Visayas region. It’s expected to make business travel and supply-chain visits much easier for companies that previously relied on indirect routes via Xiamen or Manila.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed the restart, calling it a “new chapter” in people-to-people exchange. The Chinese Embassy in Manila also confirmed that Xiamen Airlines plans to increase flights on its Xiamen–Manila route to meet stronger demand. The announcement comes after the Philippines introduced a one-year visa-free entry scheme allowing Chinese citizens to stay up to 14 days for tourism or business.

For corporate travelers, the renewed direct link offers a more convenient route between Fujian’s export clusters and Cebu’s logistics, repair, and electronics sectors. It also supports greater accessibility to Mindanao, where several Chinese companies are currently involved in infrastructure projects. Filipino travelers should note that China has yet to introduce a reciprocal visa-free policy, so visas remain required except for short transits of up to 24 hours.

The service will also provide around five tonnes of cargo space per flight, which is expected to benefit e-commerce and high-value shipments like electronics and fashion samples. Freight forwarders are advised to secure space early, as the route typically maintains load factors above 80% during peak export periods.