Riyadh Airport Disruption: Saudia Now Flies via Qassim

Updated as of 27 Oct 2026. Flight arrangements from Saudia’s Riyadh travel update, checked 27 Oct 2026. Background from Business Standard (8 Oct 2026) and Aviation Week (26 Oct 2026).

Booked on Saudia to or through Riyadh? Your flight probably isn’t landing in Riyadh. After the Houthi missile attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid airport on 8 October, Saudia is running its Riyadh flights through Al Qassim (ELQ) and Dammam, with a bus to the city. Here’s what that means if you’re flying from India or using AlFursan miles.

What’s happening

• Saudia: flights to and from Riyadh operate through Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Al Qassim, and through Dammam. Your ticket includes a Saudia bus between the airport and Riyadh’s city terminal.
• Riyadh Air: has also moved its flights to Al Qassim, from 25 October until further notice. Aviation Week reports a coach ride of about four hours to Riyadh.
• Indian airlines: Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo cancelled Riyadh flights right after the attack. Check your airline’s flight status before you leave for the airport.

If you’re flying Saudia

• Check which airport you’re flying from. Saudia shows the airport and bus times in your search results, booking confirmation and flight details.
• Allow for the bus. Collect your checked bags before boarding it on arrival. If you’re starting in Riyadh, be at the pick-up point before the time shown in your booking.
• Connecting to Europe or the US? Saudia’s Jeddah hub isn’t affected. If you’re booking now, a connection through Jeddah avoids the bus entirely.

What to do

You are…	What to do
Flying India–Riyadh on Saudia	⚠️ Check your flight details for the airport and bus time; add at least four hours to your plans
Connecting through Riyadh on Saudia	⚠️ Ask Saudia to move you to a Jeddah connection if it’s available
Booking AlFursan miles to Europe or the US	✅ Pick routings through Jeddah until Riyadh is back to normal
Flying IndiGo, Air India or Air India Express to Riyadh	⚠️ Check flight status and your airline’s change and refund options

Using AlFursan miles? See which Indian cards transfer to them on our Saudia AlFursan page.

DealUni take: your flight still goes, but “Riyadh” now means a bus from another airport. Until Saudia says Riyadh is back to normal, route through Jeddah where you can. Ticket pe Riyadh likha hai, par utroge Qassim mein. (The ticket says Riyadh, but you’ll land in Qassim.)

Sources: Saudia: Riyadh travel update; Business Standard, 8 Oct 2026; Aviation Week, 26 Oct 2026. Checked 27 Oct 2026.