Delta Riyadh flights will not begin on October 23, with Delta Air Lines postponing its planned Atlanta nonstop until at least March 2027. The carrier announced the move Monday after deadly missile attacks hit Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport.
Delta said changing conditions in the region prompted the delay. It stressed that the safety of passengers and employees guides its operating decisions.
Delta Riyadh flights were set to use Airbus A350s
Delta planned to operate the roughly 6,024-mile (9,695 km) route with its Airbus A350-900 widebody aircraft.
The service would link Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Delta’s home hub, with King Khalid International Airport. It had been under development since July 2024, when Delta announced a strategic partnership with Riyadh Air.
Riyadh Air is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The partnership formed part of Delta’s wider plan to connect Saudi Arabia with its international network.
Airport attacks left at least 15 people dead
Missile strikes on King Khalid airport killed at least 15 people and injured more than 300 over several days.
Two attacks targeted the airport on October 8. The first damaged airport facilities, while the second destroyed a parked Saudia Airbus A320-series aircraft. Three people died, including a Saudia captain.
A ballistic missile then struck Terminal 3 on October 10, killing 12 people and injuring about 309. Another missile hit Terminal 4 the following day and caused further casualties.
King Khalid airport remains closed. Saudi authorities have extended the shutdown until at least October 17.
Houthi attacks expanded to aviation targets
Houthi forces had warned airlines earlier in October that they considered Saudi airspace unsafe and intended to attack civil aviation targets.
The group initially focused on Saudi oil infrastructure after a truce collapsed during the summer. Ballistic missiles subsequently reached airports at Riyadh and Abha.
Saudi Arabia operates US-built Patriot missiles and the THAAD air-defence system. Despite those systems, multiple Houthi-fired missiles penetrated Saudi airspace and struck airport sites.
Delta still plans to serve Saudi Arabia
Delta says Saudi Arabia remains an important long-term market and expects to connect the country with its network in March 2027.
Before the postponement, chief executive Ed Bastian told investors that the airline’s safety and security department would make the final decision on whether the route could proceed.
The new target remains subject to conditions in the region. Delta has not announced a more precise launch date within March 2027.
October itineraries require a fresh flight check
Travellers should no longer plan around Delta’s cancelled October 23 launch and should treat March 2027 as the earliest possible start.
Passengers with near-term journeys through Riyadh should confirm their flight status with the operating airline before travelling to the airport. The next immediate date to watch is October 17, when the current closure could end, although Saudi authorities may extend it again.
Anyone considering the future Atlanta service should wait for Delta to publish a confirmed schedule before arranging connecting travel around it.
