Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam as disruption to Saudi Arabia’s aviation network continues after a series of deadly attacks in the kingdom, Gulf News reported.

The Doha-based carrier issued a travel alert on Tuesday saying it was closely monitoring the situation in Saudi Arabia in coordination with the relevant authorities.

“As a result of the current situation, Qatar Airways has suspended flights to both destinations,” the airline said.

It said the safety of passengers and crew remained its top priority and urged travellers to check flight status on its website or mobile app. Affected passengers will be contacted directly, with further updates to be posted online.

The suspension comes as Saudi authorities extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The country’s civil aviation authority said the airport was shut to allow procedures to be completed to ensure the safety and operational readiness of its facilities.

A later Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) showed the airport will stay closed until 2100 GMT on October 17.

The airport has been closed since an attack on Saturday that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, the deadliest in Saudi Arabia in over a decade, according to Gulf News. A second attack on Sunday killed one person and injured nearly a dozen others.

The closure has triggered a wave of cancellations and suspensions by airlines serving the Saudi capital, disrupting travel across the Gulf and beyond. It is among the most significant disruptions to Saudi aviation in years, adding pressure on airlines already facing conflict across the Middle East and sharply higher jet fuel costs.

Airlines in Europe and Asia have also suspended services. The US Federal Aviation Administration on Sunday advised American carriers to exercise caution when flying to or over Saudi Arabia. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) widened its warning on Saudi airspace on Friday, citing missile and drone attacks.

Flights involving Riyadh and other Saudi destinations could remain subject to short-notice changes as airlines respond to the security situation and airport restrictions, the report said.

Qatar Airways advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport and to wait for direct communication if their service is affected.

Source: Gulf News