Delta's Atlanta to Riyadh flight, the first nonstop route to Saudi Arabia by a U.S. airline, is scheduled to launch on October 23. A missile attack near Riyadh's main airport earlier this month has travelers asking whether it will still go ahead.
Delta hasn't announced any change to the launch. Last week, though, aviation schedule analyst Enilria reported that the airline was weighing whether to start the route as planned.
What Happened in Riyadh
On September 19, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen fired a ballistic missile at Riyadh. Saudi air defenses intercepted it, but residents reported explosions and a large plume of black smoke rising from the fuel storage area at King Khalid International Airport, the city's main airport.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, which set Aramco fuel tanks near the airport on fire and briefly grounded most flights. Firefighters had the blaze under control by that morning, and the airport returned to normal operations over the following day.
All of this is part of a wider conflict. Fighting between the United States and Iran began in February, and Iran-backed groups have repeatedly targeted Saudi Arabia with drones and missiles since then.
The Travel Advisory
Some travelers online have said the U.S. government just raised its warning for Saudi Arabia, but that isn't quite what happened. The State Department has kept Saudi Arabia at Level 3 since March. That's its "Reconsider Travel" warning, one step below Level 4, which means do not travel. It refreshed the advisory's summary on September 15 and issued a security alert after the Riyadh attack, but it didn't raise the level.
That alert warned that Iran-backed Houthis have attacked Saudi civilian airports and that the conflict could escalate quickly. It also advised Americans traveling to or from the region to keep an eye on airport and airline operations.
Why Delta Wants This Route
Riyadh is a big bet for Delta. At 7,283 miles, it's one of the airline's longest routes. It's also tied to Delta's partnership with Riyadh Air, the new Saudi airline that plans to start its own flights to the U.S. Saudi Arabia is also pushing to grow tourism and business travel under Vision 2030, its plan to diversify the economy beyond oil.
Nonstop flights between the two countries aren't new, though. Saudia, Saudi Arabia's national airline, already flies to several U.S. cities, but no American airline currently serves the kingdom.
If You're Booked
For now, the flights are still on the schedule, so it's best to watch your booking and Delta's own updates rather than social media speculation.
If Delta cancels the flight or changes it significantly, U.S. Department of Transportation rules entitle you to a refund if you choose not to travel. It's also worth checking your travel insurance, since many policies exclude events tied to war or armed conflict.
Having promoted the launch heavily, including SkyMiles award deals for travel to Riyadh, Delta would be making a notable reversal if it pulled the route now. With less than four weeks to go, a decision either way can't be far off.
