By Joseph Hellman-Benjamin, Founder and CEO of The Points King. Last updated: November 1, 2026. Editorial Policy
Situation as of November 1, 2026. It is changing by the day. Confirm with your airline before you go to the airport.
Middle East flight disruptions are not over. As of November 1, 2026, Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport is open again for Saudi airlines, and Houthi missile and drone fire at Saudi Arabia has continued. Jazeera Airways became the first foreign airline confirmed back in Riyadh on November 1; Emirates, Etihad, Lufthansa, KLM, Air France and British Airways have not returned yet, with British Airways planning Riyadh from November 3 and Emirates from November 8. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Tel Aviv airports are open, and KLM has dropped Dubai for the whole winter season. If an airline cancels your flight, you are owed a refund under U.S. and European rules. If you are offered a voucher in its place, read how airline vouchers and flight credits work before you accept. Do not cancel a ticket yourself before you have checked the airline’s waiver.
I am not a security analyst and this page does not try to be one. I work with airline tickets and miles, so it covers what a traveler can act on: what is flying, which airlines are waiving fees, what you are owed, and what happens to a ticket booked with miles. Every line is sourced and dated, and the newest reports are at the top.
Latest News: October 26 to November 1, 2026
- November 1: Jazeera Airways resumed daily Kuwait to Riyadh flights, the first foreign airline I could confirm back at King Khalid, per Arabian Business.
- October 29: the Saudi-led coalition shot down a missile aimed at the Eastern Province, where Dammam is. Gulf News repeated the Etihad (to November 5), Emirates (Jeddah October 30; Riyadh and Dammam November 8) and flydubai (from October 30) dates, per its daily update.
- October 28: the Wall Street Journal reported that the US told Gulf states to prepare for a short, intense campaign against Iran after the November 3 midterm elections, as summarized by The Express Tribune. If that happens, expect new Gulf airspace closures at short notice.
- October 28: the U.S. Mission said Riyadh airport partly reopened on October 23, while Saudi and other reports give October 25; some flights moved to Qassim, per Gulf News. The Emirates and flydubai Tel Aviv codeshare remains suspended.
- October 28: El Al restarted San Francisco to Tel Aviv, per California Globe.
- October 27: the coalition intercepted three ballistic missiles aimed at the Eastern Province and four drones, with no airport impact reported, per Kuwait Times.
- October 26: KLM cancelled Amsterdam to Dubai for the whole winter season, through March 27, 2027, and Riyadh and Dammam through November 27, per AeroCorner.
- October 26: the Houthis claimed a new strike on Riyadh airport hours after it reopened; the airport listed arrivals from Dubai, Paris and Cairo, but most flights stayed cancelled, per The Vibes.
- October 25: The National’s airline roundup added Eurowings Jeddah from November 12, per The National.
Earlier: October 11 to October 26, 2026
- October 26: Saudi Arabia intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile fired toward Riyadh, a day after explosions over the capital, and the Houthis say the airport is still a target, per Gulf News.
- October 26: From October 8 to 25, 7,802 of 17,299 scheduled departures from Saudi Arabia were cancelled or not flown, including 86% of Riyadh’s, according to Cirium data reported by Gulf News.
- October 25: Riyadh airport reopened Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights by Saudi airlines. Most scheduled departures were still cancelled on the day, per Middle East Eye and Gulf News.
- October 25: Emirates set its Jeddah return for October 30 and Riyadh and Dammam for November 8. Etihad cancelled Riyadh, Dammam and four Jeddah flights through November 5, and Air France extended its Riyadh suspension through November 14, The National reports.
- October 25: British Airways resumed London Heathrow to Tel Aviv with one overnight flight a day, and Iberia resumed Madrid to Tel Aviv, per Head for Points.
- October 25 and 26: Lufthansa restarted Munich to Dubai and then Frankfurt to Dubai. SWISS returns to Dubai on October 27 and Eurowings on November 1, per Gulf News.
- October 24: Air India extended its Riyadh and Dammam suspension through November 7 and Jeddah through October 31, per Time Out Riyadh.
- October 21: An attack on Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport killed one person and injured eight, Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority said, and the airport resumed operations, per Gulf Business. Gulf News later put the death toll at two.
- October 21 to 23: The State Department ordered non-emergency U.S. government staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia, effective October 23, according to the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh.
- October 16: United said its Newark to Dubai flights will return in March 2027 and that customers on cancelled flights between October 24, 2026 and March 27, 2027 will get full refunds, per Time Out Dubai.
- October 12: Delta postponed its Atlanta to Riyadh launch, planned for October 23, to March 2027, and opened a Riyadh travel waiver, Delta said.
- October 12: The State Department reissued its Saudi Arabia advisory at Level 3, with some areas at Level 4, per its advisory page.
- October 10, corrected: KLM corrected its notice the same day: Dubai is cancelled through October 24, and Riyadh and Dammam through October 31, per KLM.
Earlier: September 30 to October 11, 2026
- October 11: Riyadh airport is closed. Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia cancelled flights, and Flightradar24 listed 606 Sunday flights as cancelled, The National reports. A notice gave the closure as running to midnight Sunday and did not say when passenger flights would restart.
- October 11: Etihad cancelled eight Abu Dhabi to Riyadh flights for October 11 and 12, per Khaleej Times.
- October 10: Saudi Arabia’s aviation regulator suspended operations at Riyadh airport after an attack on it, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
- October 10: KLM extended its Riyadh and Dammam cancellations through October 31, in its statement.
- October 10: Delta is reviewing the October 23 launch of its Atlanta to Riyadh route, Benzinga reports.
- October 8: Lufthansa Group suspended Riyadh flights through October 16, and Air India, Akasa and IndiGo also suspended Riyadh, per the Associated Press.
- October 8: Wizz Air cancelled all its Abu Dhabi and Dubai flights for the winter season, October 25, 2026 to March 27, 2027, The National reports.
- October 7: British Airways plans to resume Tel Aviv on October 25 with one daily flight, according to The Times of Israel.
- September 30 to October 2: flydubai suspended its Tel Aviv flights until further notice after flight FZ1073 from Dubai was diverted, per flydubai’s statements.
What Is Open and What Is Not, by Country
| Country | Status for passenger flights | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Airspace open. Riyadh (King Khalid) reopened October 25 (the U.S. Mission says October 23) for Saudi airlines; Jazeera Airways returned November 1, and most other foreign airlines are still suspended. Dammam open after the October 21 attack. Jeddah open with fewer flights | Middle East Eye, October 24; The National, October 25; U.S. Embassy, October 25 |
| United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi) | Open. Lufthansa, SWISS and Aegean are back or due back this week; many other foreign airlines return in November or later. UAE flights to Saudi Arabia largely suspended | Gulf News, October 26; Time Out Dubai, October 22 |
| Qatar (Doha) | Open, with flow restrictions | OPSGROUP, October 6 |
| Israel (Tel Aviv) | Open. British Airways and Iberia resumed on October 25. Israel holds a general election on October 27 | Head for Points, October 26; Gulf News, October 26 |
| Kuwait | Restricted. Closed to overflights until November 2, with approved arrivals and departures only | OPSGROUP, October 6 |
| Bahrain | Open, with reduced service | The National, October 8 |
| Jordan (Amman) | Open, but the EU safety agency advises its airlines to avoid Jordanian airspace | Safe Airspace, October 11 |
| Lebanon (Beirut) | Restricted for EU and UK airlines to sea approaches. Air France and Turkish Airlines have resumed | Safe Airspace; The National, October 8 |
| Iraq | Open to overflights, but the EU safety agency advises against it and U.S. airlines are barred below 32,000 feet | Safe Airspace, October 11 |
| Iran | Western airspace closed. Eastern part open to overflights on set routes. U.S. airlines are barred | OPSGROUP, October 6 |
| Syria | Restricted. Turkish Airlines has resumed Damascus | OPSGROUP, October 6; The National, October 8 |
Routing matters even where airports are open. OPSGROUP reports that most traffic now uses a southern route through Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Oman or a northern one through the Caucasus, with heavy congestion and widespread GPS interference. Since the Riyadh attacks, Safe Airspace advises operators to avoid Saudi airspace. Expect longer flights and missed connections on trips that cross the region.
Airline by Airline: Status and Waivers
| Airline | What is and is not flying | Waiver or policy today |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates | Jeddah scheduled to resume October 30 (not yet confirmed as operating). Riyadh and Dammam from November 8. Medina flying. Tel Aviv codeshares with flydubai suspended | No conflict waiver found. Standard policy: rebook on the next available Emirates flight or cancel |
| Qatar Airways | Riyadh: the suspension through October 25 has expired and I found no update, so check with Qatar Airways. Dammam still suspended. Jeddah cut from seven to four flights a day | No waiver shown on its alert page on October 11 |
| Etihad | Riyadh, Dammam and four Jeddah flights cancelled through November 5. Still flying to Tel Aviv | No active waiver found. Its free-change policy ended for tickets issued from July 1, 2026 |
| flydubai | Riyadh, Dammam and Abha scheduled to resume October 30 (two daily Riyadh, four daily Dammam, one Abha); not yet confirmed as operating. Tel Aviv still affected | Refund or rebooking through Manage Booking |
| Turkish Airlines | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Damascus, Beirut and Amman resumed. Tehran still suspended | No waiver posted |
| El Al | Flying a full schedule. San Francisco to Tel Aviv restarted (launch event October 28) | Not confirmed. Check with El Al |
| United | Newark to Tel Aviv flying twice daily since September 8. Newark to Dubai returns in March 2027 | Dubai: full refunds for cancelled flights scheduled October 24, 2026 to March 27, 2027. Tel Aviv waiver could not be confirmed; check its travel notices page |
| Delta | New York JFK to Tel Aviv daily since September 6. Atlanta to Tel Aviv paused through December 18. Atlanta to Riyadh launch moved from October 23 to March 2027 | Tel Aviv: travel February 28 to December 18, 2026, on tickets issued by May 20, 2026; rebook to travel by April 15, 2027, or cancel for a refund of the unflown part. Riyadh: waiver and refunds for the postponed route |
| American | Not flying to Tel Aviv | Active for Tel Aviv (travel through March 26, 2027) and Doha (travel through January 6, 2027), on tickets bought by March 28, 2026 |
| Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian | Dubai: Munich planned from October 25, Frankfurt October 26, SWISS Zurich October 27, Eurowings November 1, Austrian Vienna December 12 (I could not confirm the first flights operated). Riyadh suspended through November 18, Dammam through November 30, Eurowings Jeddah from November 12. Tel Aviv flying | Could not be confirmed. Check with the airline |
| British Airways | Tel Aviv resumed October 25, one flight a day. Riyadh and Dubai due back in early November (one daily Riyadh flight from November 3). Bahrain suspended to the end of March 2027 | No live notice on its travel news page on October 11 |
| KLM | Dubai cancelled for the whole winter season, through March 27, 2027. Riyadh and Dammam cancelled through November 27. Tel Aviv flying with a stop in Larnaca | Active: travel February 28 to November 15, 2026, on tickets issued by October 9, 2026. Free date change, voucher, or refund if the flight is cancelled |
| Air France | Riyadh suspended through November 14 (some reports say November 7). Dubai: the suspension through October 31 has expired and I found no update. Tel Aviv and Beirut flying | Could not be confirmed |
| Air India | Riyadh and Dammam suspended through November 7; Jeddah ran to October 31 and I could not confirm a restart. Delhi to Tel Aviv: reports conflict, one saying Air India returns in December, so check with Air India | Full refunds on the suspended Saudi flights |
| Iberia | Madrid to Tel Aviv resumed October 25, daily | Check with Iberia |
| Cathay Pacific | Riyadh suspended through January 31, 2027 | Check with Cathay Pacific |
| Air Arabia, Oman Air, SalamAir | Air Arabia: Sharjah to Riyadh, Abha, Dammam and Taif cancelled, no restart date. Oman Air and SalamAir: their suspensions to October 31 have expired, and I found no extension or confirmed restart | Check with the airline |
| Wizz Air | Abu Dhabi and Dubai cancelled for the whole winter season. Jordan suspended until October 25 | Check with Wizz Air |
| Royal Jordanian | Erbil, Bahrain and Sulaymaniyah resumed in late July | Active for cancelled flights on those routes: free change for travel by December 15, 2026, a voucher, or a refund |
Saudi route dates are from The National’s airline list of October 25, Gulf News of October 26 and Time Out Riyadh; Dubai return dates from Gulf News of October 26 and Time Out Dubai; Tel Aviv routes from Head for Points of October 26 and Masa Israel’s list of October 4. Waivers are from each airline’s own page, read on October 11 unless a later date is given. “Could not be confirmed” means the airline’s page would not load for us, not that no waiver exists.
What You Are Owed if Your Flight Is Cancelled
Flights to, from or within the United States
The Department of Transportation’s rule is simple: if the airline cancels your flight for any reason and you do not accept the alternative it offers, you are owed a refund. The same applies to a significant change, which means a delay of six hours or more on an international flight, a different airport, more connections or a downgrade. Refunds must arrive within 7 business days for card payments. The reason for the cancellation does not matter, so war or airspace closure does not let an airline keep your money.
Flights from Europe or the UK, or into them on a European or UK airline
Under EU261 and the UK version of it, a cancelled flight gives you the choice of a refund or rerouting, plus meals and a hotel while you wait. Cash compensation is not owed when the cause is an extraordinary circumstance, and security risks count as one. A reform of EU261 was adopted in September 2026, but most of it does not apply until October 23, 2027, according to Burges Salmon, so today’s rules are the old ones.
The one mistake to avoid
If you cancel a non-refundable ticket yourself before the airline cancels the flight, you usually lose the right to a cash refund. Wait for the airline to cancel, or use its waiver.
If You Booked With Miles or Points
Contact the program that issued the ticket, not the airline flying the plane. A British Airways flight booked with American miles is American’s ticket to fix. When the airline cancels, programs generally return the miles and the taxes. When you cancel on your own, the normal fee applies unless a waiver covers you.
| Program | Fee to cancel an award yourself |
|---|---|
| American AAdvantage | None |
| United MileagePlus | None |
| Delta SkyMiles | None on trips from North America |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Up to CAD 150 |
| British Airways Club | $55 |
| Emirates Skywards | Up to $75 |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | $25, or $100 within 24 hours of departure |
Fees are from One Mile at a Time’s table, September 10, 2026. More on fees and expiry by program is in our guide to how to use airline miles.
Does Travel Insurance or Your Credit Card Cover This?
- Standard policies exclude war. Travelex, for example, says its plans do not cover losses caused by an act of war, and it treats this conflict as a foreseeable event from February 28, 2026.
- Card insurance does too. The trip cancellation cover on both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Platinum excludes war, according to NerdWallet’s guides to the Sapphire Reserve and Amex cards. Both pay up to $500 for a delay of six hours or more, which may still apply to a missed connection.
- “Cancel for any reason” cover is the exception. It pays back 50% to 75% of the trip, must be bought within 14 to 21 days of your first deposit, and requires you to cancel two to three days before departure, per Squaremouth. It does not reimburse flights paid for with miles.
U.S. State Department Advisory Levels
| Country | Level | Issued |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Level 3: reconsider travel, with some areas at Level 4. Non-emergency U.S. government staff ordered to leave from October 23 | October 23, 2026 |
| Israel, the West Bank and Gaza | Level 3 | October 23, 2026 |
| United Arab Emirates | Level 3 | October 23, 2026 |
| Qatar | Level 3 | October 23, 2026 |
| Jordan | Level 3 | October 23, 2026 |
| Kuwait and Bahrain | Level 3 | October 23, 2026 |
| Oman | Level 3 | October 23, 2026 |
| Lebanon, Iraq and Iran | Level 4: do not travel | August 2026 for Lebanon and Iraq; December 5, 2025 for Iran |
From the State Department’s advisory list, read on November 1, 2026 (the regional advisories were reissued on October 23 at unchanged levels; the Saudi advisory now leads with the risk of Iranian drone and missile attacks on American interests), and its Saudi Arabia page and the U.S. Embassy alert, read on October 26, 2026. An advisory level can also affect what a travel insurer will cover, so check your policy against it.
How 2026 Got Here: A Short Timeline
- February 28: Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE closed their airspace, as Al Jazeera reported.
- April 8 to 26: after a ceasefire, Bahrain, Iraq and Israel reopened, followed by partial reopenings in Iran, Qatar and Kuwait, per Euronews.
- May 2 to 4: the UAE lifted its restrictions, and Emirates said it had restored 96% of its network at about 75% of its earlier capacity.
- June 3: Kuwait suspended commercial flights after its terminal was hit. International airlines returned on June 18.
- July: fighting resumed on July 7. Flights to Kuwait, Bahrain and Amman were cancelled again on July 19 to 21.
- September 30: the EU aviation safety agency issued a new bulletin for Saudi Arabia and again advised airlines to avoid Jordan.
- October 7 to 11: attacks on Riyadh and Abha airports caused mass cancellations. Riyadh was broadly back to normal on October 9 and then closed again on October 10.
- October 21: an attack on Dammam airport killed at least one person. The U.S. ordered non-emergency government staff out of Saudi Arabia.
- October 25: Riyadh airport reopened for Saudi airlines after 15 days. British Airways and Iberia returned to Tel Aviv, and Lufthansa to Dubai.
What I Would Do With a Ticket Right Now
- Flying to or through Riyadh before mid-November: the airport is open, but only Saudi airlines are flying and most foreign airlines have suspended the route into November. If your ticket is on Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways or a European airline, ask for a reroute on a Saudi airline or a refund. Do not go to the airport without a confirmed flight.
- Flying to Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi on a Gulf airline: those flights are operating. Check the flight the day before, and leave a long connection if you connect onward.
- Booked on a European or U.S. airline that has suspended the route: you are due a refund or a rebooking. Use the waiver if there is one, since it usually lets you move dates without a fare difference.
- Booked with miles: call the program that issued the ticket and ask for the miles and taxes back with no fee, citing the cancellation or the waiver.
- Not yet booked: buy a refundable fare or one with free changes, pay with a card that has trip delay cover, and do not rely on ordinary insurance for a war-related cancellation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Riyadh airport open?
Yes, partly. King Khalid International Airport reopened on October 25, 2026 (the U.S. Mission says October 23) after a two-week closure, with Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights by Saudi airlines. Jazeera Airways returned on November 1. Most other foreign airlines, including Emirates, Etihad, Lufthansa, KLM and Air France, have suspended Riyadh into November or later, and the Houthis have kept firing at Saudi targets.
Are flights to Dubai operating?
Yes. Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports are open, Dubai is running at full capacity, and Emirates and Etihad are flying. Lufthansa and SWISS planned their returns for late October and Eurowings for November 1. KLM has cancelled Dubai through March 27, 2027, Air France has not announced a restart, British Airways returns in early November and United not until March 2027.
Which U.S. airlines fly to Tel Aviv now?
Delta, daily from New York JFK, and United, twice daily from Newark, as of October 4, 2026. American is not flying to Tel Aviv.
Can I get a refund if my flight to the Middle East is cancelled?
Yes. Under U.S. rules, if the airline cancels and you decline the alternative, you are owed a refund whatever the reason. EU and UK rules give the same choice of refund or rerouting.
Am I owed compensation as well as a refund?
Usually not. Under EU261 and UK261, compensation is not owed when a cancellation is caused by extraordinary circumstances such as security risks.
Does travel insurance cover cancellations caused by war?
Most policies and credit card benefits exclude war. “Cancel for any reason” cover, bought soon after booking, pays back 50% to 75%.
What happens to an award ticket if the airline cancels the flight?
Contact the program that issued the ticket. Programs generally return the miles and taxes when the airline cancels.
Sources
- Arabian Business: Jazeera Airways resumes Riyadh, November 1, 2026
- Gulf News: daily update, October 29, 2026
- AeroCorner: KLM suspends Dubai for the winter, October 26, 2026
- U.S. State Department: travel advisories, reissued October 23, 2026
- Gulf News: what UAE residents need to know today, October 26, 2026
- Gulf News: Saudi flight disruption figures from Cirium, October 26, 2026
- Head for Points: British Airways resumes Tel Aviv, October 26, 2026
- The National: Saudi Arabia flight cancellations by airline, October 25, 2026
- U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia: security alert, October 25, 2026
- Middle East Eye: Riyadh airport to resume flights, October 24, 2026
- Time Out Riyadh: Saudi flight cancellations, October 24, 2026
- Time Out Dubai: airlines returning to Dubai, October 22, 2026
- Gulf Business: Dammam airport attack, October 22, 2026
- Gulf News: Dammam airport resumes operations, October 2026
- Time Out Dubai: airlines suspending Dubai flights, October 16, 2026
- Delta: Atlanta to Riyadh launch delayed, October 12, 2026
- U.S. State Department: Saudi Arabia travel advisory, October 12, 2026
- The National: Riyadh airport closure and cancellations, October 11, 2026
- Khaleej Times: Etihad cancels Abu Dhabi to Riyadh flights, October 11, 2026
- Saudi Press Agency: operations suspended at Riyadh airport, October 10, 2026
- KLM: statement on the Middle East, October 10, 2026, with its same-day correction
- Gulf News: UAE flight status, October 10, 2026
- Benzinga: Delta reviews Riyadh launch, October 10, 2026
- The National: Riyadh flights after days of disruption, October 9, 2026
- The National: airline suspensions and resumption dates, October 8, 2026
- Associated Press: airlines suspend Riyadh service, October 8, 2026
- The National: Wizz Air cancels winter Gulf flights, October 8, 2026
- The Times of Israel: British Airways to resume Tel Aviv, October 7, 2026
- OPSGROUP: Middle East airspace operational picture, October 6, 2026
- Safe Airspace: conflict zone summary, read October 11, 2026
- EASA: conflict zone bulletin for Saudi Arabia, revised October 9, 2026
- Masa Israel: airlines flying to Israel, October 4, 2026
- flydubai: statements on flight FZ1073 and Tel Aviv, updated October 2, 2026
- American Airlines: travel alerts, current as of October 9, 2026
- Delta: Tel Aviv advisory, read October 11, 2026
- KLM: travel alerts and rebooking terms, October 9, 2026
- Royal Jordanian: travel updates, read October 11, 2026
- U.S. State Department: Saudi Arabia travel advisory (earlier version), October 10, 2026
- U.S. Department of Transportation: refunds, updated November 7, 2025
- European Union: air passenger rights, updated September 21, 2026
- UK Civil Aviation Authority: cancellations, read October 11, 2026
- Burges Salmon: EU261 reform, October 8, 2026
- One Mile at a Time: award ticket change fees, September 10, 2026
- Squaremouth: cancel for any reason cover, October 2, 2026
- NerdWallet: Amex travel insurance, October 1, 2026
- Al Jazeera: UAE lifts air traffic restrictions, May 3, 2026
- Emirates: network restoration statement, May 4, 2026