delta airlines The start of direct flights between Atlanta and Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh has been postponed until March after the city’s airport was hit by multiple deadly attacks.
Delta Air Lines was scheduled to launch the route on Oct. 23 with an Airbus A350-900 widebody aircraft, marking what would have been the first nonstop commercial flight between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia operated by a U.S. airline.
More than 2,000 flights to and from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport have been canceled since Thursday, according to FlightAware. A deadly attack claimed by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis escalated on Saturday, with a projectile hitting an airport passenger terminal, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 300, officials said.
King Khalid International Airport remained closed as of Monday.
“We continue to monitor the situation in close contact with relevant government and aviation partners, including Saudia Airlines and Riyadh Airways,” Delta Air Lines said in a statement. “Saudi Arabia continues to be an important market for Delta Air Lines, and we are committed to serving Saudi Arabia for the long term.”
Delta CEO Ed Bastian told CNBC on Thursday that the airline has not yet decided whether to postpone its debut.
“I was obviously disappointed to see the news this week,” he said. “Safety will call you.”
Delta Air Lines’ decision comes after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning to U.S. airlines on Sunday.
The FAA said pilots should “exercise caution” in and around Saudi Arabia due to “ongoing military activities” and flight safety risks associated with navigation systems. The agency said in the warning, which is in effect until Dec. 10, that the threat could pose a potential risk “to aircraft at all altitudes.”
Airlines have suspended flights to airports and some flights have been grounded for the rest of the week, while countries including the United States and Australia have advised their citizens against traveling to the region.
— CNBC’s Michele Luhn contributed to this report.
