Flight Changes to Riyadh, Jeddah Continue in 2026

Oct 20, 2026•2 min read

Travelers heading to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and other Saudi cities should double-check their bookings, as airlines continued making schedule changes throughout 2026, including cancellations, suspensions, route changes, and reduced frequencies.

الخطوط السعودية updated cancellations and rescheduling in its booking systems through October 2026. The carrier also offered eligible passengers no-fee same-cabin changes and route changes involving flights to and from الرياض, الدمام, جدة, Al-Qassim, Madinah, Hofuf, and other Saudi airports. Eligibility periods and waiver codes vary by itinerary, so passengers should confirm the details that apply to their ticket.

Among international carriers, Qatar Airways suspended services to الرياض and الدمام through October 24, 2026, and reduced its Doha–جدة service from seven to four daily flights. In all cases, travelers are advised to verify their booking directly with the operating carrier before heading to the airport.

Know your passenger rights

Saudi passenger-rights rules require carriers to offer an alternative flight after a cancellation and to explain refund, care, support, and compensation rights. For a cancellation notice given 60 to 14 days before departure, eligible compensation is 50% of the unused ticket value; notice given between 14 days and 24 hours before departure can qualify for 75%; and notice within 24 hours can qualify for 150%.

For arrival delays exceeding three hours, compensation is 50 SDR, while delays exceeding six hours can qualify for 150 SDR. Compensation does not generally apply when the change results from approved force majeure, safety and security reasons, or when an accepted alternative is provided under the applicable conditions.

Complaints should first be submitted to the airline. If an aviation complaint remains unresolved, it can be escalated through the General Authority of Civil Aviation passenger-rights complaint channel.

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