The US Federal Aviation Administration has told American airlines to exercise caution when flying to or over Saudi Arabia, citing safety threats from ongoing military activity and interference with aircraft navigation systems after a string of Houthi strikes on Saudi airports.
The warning was issued on Sunday, October 11, as a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), Reuters reported. It runs until December 10, 2026, and applies to US airlines as well as to operators of aircraft registered in the United States.
What the FAA notice says
In the notice, the FAA warned of a "potentially hazardous situation" in Saudi airspace. "Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including overflight, the arrival, and departure phases of flight," the agency said.
That wording matters. It means the FAA is not only concerned about aircraft landing at or departing from Saudi airports, which have been the direct targets of recent attacks, but also about flights that simply cross Saudi airspace at cruise altitude. Saudi Arabia sits under some of the busiest air corridors linking Europe, the Gulf, Africa and South Asia.
A caution notice is not a ban. US carriers can still operate in Saudi airspace, but they are expected to assess the risk carefully and plan accordingly. Outright prohibitions are normally handled through separate, stricter FAA rules.
Why now
The notice follows strikes on Saturday and Sunday on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which Yemen's Houthis said they carried out. According to Reuters, the attack on Saturday killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. The Jerusalem Post, citing Reuters, reported that another attack on Sunday killed one person and injured 11 more.
Riyadh airport remains closed to flights through at least 5 p.m. EDT on Monday, October 12, Reuters said. Late on Sunday, Saudi authorities also said King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, in the country's Eastern Province, had been attacked, widening the campaign beyond the capital.
Other authorities have also stepped up their warnings. On Friday, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recommended that airlines not operate within additional portions of Saudi airspace. The UK Embassy in Saudi Arabia advised against all but essential travel to the cities of Jeddah and Dammam and to all Saudi airports, according to a statement reported by The Jerusalem Post.
Delta's Riyadh launch in focus
The FAA notice puts fresh attention on Delta Air Lines, which is due to begin nonstop flights between Atlanta and Riyadh on October 23.
Delta did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday, Reuters said. Last week, Delta CEO Ed Bastian told CNBC that "safety is going to make the call" on whether the airline goes ahead with the route.
Other major US airlines serve Riyadh through codeshare partners rather than with their own aircraft. On the cargo side, FedEx launched its first dedicated flight into Saudi Arabia in September 2025. That Boeing 777 freighter operates six times a week and links the Americas and Europe with Riyadh, with onward connections to Guangzhou and Shanghai, according to Reuters.
What it means for travelers
For passengers, the immediate effect depends on the airline. US carriers will now weigh the FAA guidance in their routing and scheduling decisions, which could mean longer flight paths for some services that normally cross Saudi airspace, or schedule changes on routes into the kingdom.
Travelers booked to or through Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks, including on codeshare itineraries sold by US airlines, should check their flight status directly with the operating carrier before going to the airport. With Riyadh closed and Dammam now also targeted, cancellations and diversions remain possible at short notice.
The key question for the industry is whether the caution notice is the last step or the first. If the attacks continue, regulators could move from advice to firmer restrictions, which would have a much larger impact on airlines that rely on Saudi airspace to connect Europe with Asia and the Gulf.
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