Air France extends Riyadh flight suspension through November 7 and Dubai through end of October
Key Facts
The Air France-KLM group extended the suspension of flights to and from Riyadh through November 7 and kept Dubai flights suspended through October 31, according to a Reuters report published by Euronext Live. The report specifies the end dates of the suspensions for each destination, but does not establish that the company issued a new announcement on October 29. The suspension periods differ between Riyadh and Dubai: the measure in the Saudi capital extends into the first week of November, while the Dubai suspension ends at the end of October. The Associated Press reported on October 21 that Air France had canceled flights to Riyadh through mid-November, as part of cancellations by major airlines. The agency said the cancellations followed the partial reopening of Riyadh airport.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh experienced disruption after being struck multiple times during October, according to the Associated Press. The agency said the airport was closed on October 10, before a limited number of Saudi airlines resumed takeoffs and landings. Flights resumed after authorities notified airlines that they could return to operations, subject to prior approval. The agency reported that Saudia and flynas were operating flights from the airport on Wednesday, citing flight-tracking data published by FlightAware. This points to a limited return of traffic, while some foreign airlines continue to suspend flights to Riyadh.
The Associated Press said previous attacks on Riyadh airport had prompted flight diversions, and that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency had warned of a heightened risk of civilian aircraft being misidentified. The agency quoted the warning as saying that missile and drone attacks, and attempts to intercept them, "increase the risk of civilian aircraft being misidentified." Other airlines had suspended flights to Riyadh and various Saudi airports for varying periods, the agency said. They included Air India, flydubai, Lufthansa Group and Pakistan International Airlines. These measures place Air France's suspension within broader aviation disruption, without establishing a new blanket decision covering all its regional destinations. Resumption dates remain tied to the periods specified for each destination and airport operating conditions.
Separately from the aviation disruption, data from France's National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) showed that the household confidence index stood at 80 points in October, down 5 points from September. The institute said the reading was the lowest since June 2013 and well below its long-term average of 100 points, calculated for the period from January 1987 to December 2025. The savings climate index fell 2 points to 118 points in the same month, but remained above its long-term average of 100 points. The published data do not link the decline in confidence or the change in the savings climate to airlines' decisions on Riyadh and Dubai.
The next French economic release is scheduled for October 30, when INSEE will publish its preliminary estimate of third-quarter 2026 gross domestic product at 07:30. Detailed results for the same quarter are due on November 27 at 08:45. The release calendar did not include an annual growth forecast for the preliminary estimate. For air traffic, the dates cited in the Reuters report indicate that Riyadh flights will remain suspended through November 7, while the announced suspension of Dubai flights ends on October 31.