DOHA (The Thursday Times) — Qatar Airways has resumed flights to Riyadh and Dammam, ending a suspension of more than a month that began after attacks on the Saudi capital’s airport in October.
Daily flights to Riyadh restarted on Friday and to Dammam on Saturday, according to the airline’s travel advisory, last updated on 11 November. Both routes go up to two flights a day from 21 November and three a day from 28 November.
Flights to Abha and Taif remain temporarily suspended, the airline said. It cited operational reasons for the changes.
Qatar Airways cancelled its Doha–Riyadh flights on 9 and 10 October, after attacks on Riyadh’s airport on 8 October killed three Saudis, among them a Saudia pilot. It suspended both routes from 12 October and, on 19 October, extended the suspension until 24 October. The routes stayed closed until this week.
The restart comes as the Houthis keep up attacks on the kingdom. The group has claimed a drone attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, which Saudi Arabia did not immediately confirm, and the Saudi-led coalition said on Thursday it had downed a drone over the Riyadh region.
Gulf airports have been hit repeatedly since the Iran war began on 28 February. The Gulf Cooperation Council’s secretary-general told the UN Security Council this week that Iran had fired more than 7,000 missiles and drones at Gulf states, striking airports, ports, and power plants.
