Delta Air Lines Postpones Atlanta-Riyadh Flight Launch Over Houthi Attacks

Delta Air Lines has postponed the launch of its direct flight route between Atlanta and Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, until March following Houthi attacks on the city's international airport.

The U.S. carrier had originally planned to inaugurate the route on October 23 using an Airbus A350-900 wide-body aircraft, marking what would have been the first-ever direct commercial flight between the United States and Saudi Arabia operated by an American airline. According to FlightAware data, over 2,000 flights have been canceled since Thursday at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

The disruptions follow a series of lethal attacks launched over the past week by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen against the airport. The most recent strike on Saturday resulted in 12 fatalities and approximately 300 injuries, leaving the airport closed.

"We remain in close contact with relevant partners in the Saudi government and aviation industry, including Saudia and Riyadh Air, as we monitor the situation," Delta stated. "Saudi Arabia remains an important market for us, and we are committed to serving the kingdom for the long term."

Delta’s decision came after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning advisory to U.S. carriers, urging pilots to exercise extreme caution in and around Saudi Arabia due to flight safety risks linked to ongoing military activity. The advisory, effective through December 10, noted potential threats to aircraft at all altitudes.