Airline’s plan to be first US carrier directly serving Saudi Arabia is pushed back by five months.
Delta Air Lines will not launch its inaugural flight between Atlanta and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia until March 2027 – five months later than originally planned – following deadly missile attacks on the kingdom’s airports.
“Saudi Arabia remains an important market for Delta, and we are committed to serving the kingdom for the long-term,” says Delta. The route was originally set to commence on 23 October when announced in August.
Riyadh King Khalid International airport was hit by several strikes in recent weeks, killing at least 12 and wounding hundreds more as of Sunday, 11 October. One Saudi Arabian Airlines aircraft was also destroyed.
Saudi authorities have closed the airport until 17 October, impacting nearly 700 flights per day.
As FlightGlobal previously reported, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the attacks and warned all airlines to avoid Saudi Arabian airspace due to the risk of further attacks.
The US Federal Aviation Administration told airlines on 11 October to exercise caution when flying over the kingdom. The agency’s warning lasts until 10 December.
Saudia, a Delta codeshare partner, offers direct Riyadh service from New York John F Kennedy International and Washington Dulles International airports.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has also delayed plans to operate flights to Riyadh and Dammam until November. Germany’s Lufthansa has suspended flights to Riyadh until at least 17 October.
“The safety and security of our customers and employees always come first and continue to guide our operational decisions,” says Delta.
The post Delta delays Saudi Arabia service until 2027 after deadly Riyadh airport strikes first appeared on FlightGlobal.