Royal Jordanian Awaits Saudi Verdict on Riyadh, Dammam Flight Resumption

Flight Suspension Details

According to Al-Mamlaka, Royal Jordanian told the outlet that it is awaiting a decision from the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation to resume flights to Riyadh and Dammam airports.

Speaking to Al-Mamlaka on Tuesday, CEO Samer Majali said the airline was awaiting a decision from the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation on resuming operations to Riyadh Airport, and that once the Saudi decision is issued, the relevant Jordanian authorities will assess the possibility of resuming flights as soon as possible.

He said that between 500 and 700 passengers a day have been affected by the suspension of flights to those Saudi cities, noting that transit passengers using Queen Alia International Airport to connect to other destinations are also impacted.

Passenger Impact and Costs

Majali stressed that passengers will not incur any additional costs as a result of the suspension, and that the airline will re‑book affected travellers on its own flights without extra fees once operations resume.

He explained that Royal Jordanian had been operating three to four daily flights to Riyadh and one or two daily flights to Dammam before the disruption.

The suspension of flights to Riyadh followed an attack on the airport over the weekend, while services to Dammam were halted as a precaution even though Saudi authorities had not closed the airport.

Operational Context and Alternatives

Majali added that the decision to resume flights to Riyadh rests with Saudi authorities, who must coordinate with civil aviation and security agencies and confirm that security conditions allow safe operations.

He noted that some airport facilities had been damaged, but that Saudi airspace remains open and that Royal Jordanian flights to the Gulf and the Far East continue to cross it, based on assessments from the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation.

The airline has increased flights to Madinah and expanded capacity at Bahrain International Airport as alternatives for reaching Dammam, although reaching Riyadh remains difficult because Madinah lies about 600 kilometres away.

Majali said alternatives for reaching Riyadh are limited apart from overland travel, and the carrier is working to minimise the disruption and help passengers reach their final destinations promptly.

Airline’s Statement and Outlook

He also pointed out that the suspension has affected transit traffic through Queen Alia International Airport, particularly passengers travelling from or to Saudi Arabia to connect to other destinations, and stressed that the airline’s priorities are passenger safety and comfort, with operations set to resume as soon as conditions permit.

Royal Jordanian announced that its flights to and from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam remain temporarily suspended following the suspension of air operations by the relevant Saudi authorities.

The carrier said it is continuously monitoring developments and will cooperate with Jordan’s Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission to resume services once Saudi airports and airspace reopen and all safety requirements are met.

Royal Jordanian thanked passengers for their understanding and cooperation under these exceptional circumstances, as reported by Al-Mamlaka.