The airline’s decision follows a surge in violence at the Saudi hub, where thousands of flights have been grounded since Thursday. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the escalation, leaving the airport shuttered as of Monday. Delta CEO Ed Bastian noted that safety remains the primary driver of the scheduling shift, confirming the company is coordinating with government partners and regional carriers like Saudia and Riyadh Air.
Adding to the uncertainty, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a formal advisory on Sunday urging U.S. carriers to exercise extreme caution when navigating Saudi airspace. The agency warned of risks to aircraft at all altitudes due to ongoing military activity, with the directive remaining in effect through December 10. While Delta maintains that the Kingdom is a key market for its long-term strategy, the current environment has led to a broader travel warning from international authorities, including the U.S. and Australia, advising citizens to avoid the region entirely.
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