FAA Issues Flight Safety Warning Over Saudi Arabia After Riyadh Attacks

The airport in Riyadh remains shuttered as of Monday, forcing international airlines to suspend service while governments, including the U.S. and Australia, advise against travel to the region. The FAA’s caution, which remains in effect until December 10, highlights the dangers posed by ongoing military operations to commercial flight paths.

While most U.S. carriers avoid the airspace, the situation complicates Delta Air Lines' upcoming expansion. The carrier is slated to launch a nonstop flight from Atlanta to Riyadh on October 23. CEO Ed Bastian previously signaled that safety protocols would dictate the launch, and a company spokeswoman confirmed Sunday that no changes to the schedule had been finalized despite the escalating violence.