Delta delays Atlanta-Riyadh nonstop flight launch to March 2027
Delta Air Lines said Monday it will delay the launch of its planned nonstop service between Atlanta and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, pushing the debut from Oct. 23 to March 2027.
The route would mark the first time a U.S. carrier has flown a nonstop commercial route linking the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, according to the Wall Street Journal . Delta had planned to operate the service using an Airbus A350-900 wide-body aircraft, according to CNBC .
The decision follows a series of deadly attacks on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport carried out by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militant group. Saturday's strike on a passenger terminal left at least 12 dead and more than 300 injured, according to CNBC. As of Monday, King Khalid International Airport had not reopened, and more than 2,000 flights had been canceled to and from the airport since Thursday, according to CNBC, citing data from FlightAware.
On Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an alert urging U.S. carriers to take care when operating flights to or in the vicinity of Saudi Arabia, citing safety concerns tied to ongoing military operations in the region. The FAA notice, effective until Dec. 10, cautioned that the hazards extended to aircraft regardless of their altitude, according to CNBC.
"The safety and security of our customers and employees always come first and continue to guide our operational decisions," Delta said in a statement, according to the Wall Street Journal. The airline added that it is keeping in contact with government and aviation partners such as Saudia and Riyadh Air as it monitors the situation.
Speaking to CNBC on Thursday, Delta Chief Executive Officer Ed Bastian indicated the airline had not settled on whether to push back the launch. "Obviously, we were disappointed to see the news this week," he said. "Safety is going to make the call."
Delta said customers with affected travel plans can visit the My Trips section of delta.com to review their options. A travel waiver for Riyadh is available, and the airline said flexible options, including a refund of the unflown portion of a trip, are available.
The Riyadh delay comes as Delta lowered its full-year 2026 profit outlook last week, cutting its adjusted earnings-per-share guidance to a range of $5.10 to $5.60 from a prior range of $6.50 to $7.50, citing a sharp rise in fuel costs. The airline still expects to generate a full-year pre-tax profit of roughly $4.5 billion.
