Read the dated 5 November Etihad advisory separately from the 20 October disruption archive, then check your own flight with the operating airline.
Key Takeaways
- This is a dated advisory and archive, not a live departures board; the old flight lists describe 20 October 2026.
- Etihad’s advisory checked on 5 November cancels Abu Dhabi–Riyadh and Abu Dhabi–Dammam services through 19 November.
- Etihad lists EY601, EY602, EY603 and EY604 between Abu Dhabi and Jeddah as scheduled to resume on 6 November—not proof of an actual departure.
- An operating flight number, date and direction matter; a codeshare number is not necessarily another cancelled aircraft.
- Use the operating airline’s current status and booking notice before travelling; missing search information does not establish cancellation.
Do not use an old “today” headline to decide whether to leave for the airport. The lists lower down are a 20 October 2026 news archive, not current operational instructions. The separate Etihad advisory below was checked on 5 November; your specific flight can still change after that check. Use the operating airline’s current status and the notice attached to your own booking.
Etihad advisory checked on 5 November 2026
The current Etihad travel advisory distinguishes three Saudi destinations rather than extending one old cancellation date to all of them.
| Route | What the advisory says at this check | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi–Dammam | All passenger and cargo flights cancelled through Thursday 19 November. | This is not a statement about another airline or a later date. |
| Abu Dhabi–Riyadh | All passenger and cargo flights cancelled through Thursday 19 November. | An old ticket or timetable does not override the advisory. |
| Abu Dhabi–Jeddah | EY601/602/603/604 scheduled to resume from Friday 6 November; the notice says other flights continue as scheduled. | A planned resumption is not evidence a particular flight has already operated. |
Etihad’s flight-status checker accepts the flight number and departure date; for partner-operated flights it directs travellers to the operating carrier. Compare the flight number, direction and date with your booking before seeking rebooking help. Do not post booking references or passenger details publicly.
20 October 2026 disruption archive — not today’s flight list
The following sections retain the historical reporting for context, including the then-announced 24 October cutoff. They draw on Gulf News’s dated 20 October update; WHIUAE has not independently reconstructed every airport-board observation. Past delays do not establish an ongoing cancellation or its cause.
In that 20 October report, Emirates, flydubai, and Etihad Airways have all cancelled services to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. While these major hubs are heavily affected, some specific routes remain operational; for example, Emirates and flydubai services to Medina are currently listed as operating or scheduled.
At that time, Etihad Airways had announced cancellations for flights between Abu Dhabi and Dammam, Riyadh, and Jeddah through Saturday, 24 October. That historical cutoff has been superseded by the separately dated November advisory above. Passengers should be aware that these changes are subject to rapid updates as the regional situation evolves.
20 October DXB archive: Saudi and Kuwait cancellations
Dubai International Airport is reporting a high volume of cancellations specifically targeting Saudi Arabian destinations and Kuwait. According to airport departure information, flydubai and Emirates have been forced to cancel multiple services. Affected Saudi cities include Riyadh, Dammam, Abha, and Ha’il. Specific cancellations at DXB include:
- Riyadh: FZ841 and EK2486
- Dammam: FZ869, EK2484, FZ863, EK2278, FZ867, and EK2282
- Abha: FZ811
- Ha’il: FZ821
- Kuwait: J9 122
Additionally, some Indian carriers are experiencing delays at DXB, including SpiceJet flights to New Delhi, Kochi, and Mumbai. For those tracking international airlines cancelling Dubai flights, it is vital to distinguish between these regional Saudi-related cancellations and general operational delays affecting other routes.
20 October Abu Dhabi archive: reported international delays
While cancellations are a primary concern for Saudi-bound travellers, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi is experiencing notable delays on several major international routes. These delays affect arrivals and departures from various global hubs. Reported delays include:
- New York: Etihad EY004, scheduled for 7:20pm, delayed to 9pm.
- Delhi: Air India Express IX179 (delayed to 11:50am) and Etihad EY215.
- Tel Aviv: Etihad EY610 and LY9613, scheduled for 11:10am, delayed to 12:25pm.
- Bangkok: Etihad EY403 and several codeshare flights, scheduled for 12:35pm, delayed to 1:05pm.
- Colombo: Etihad EY391 and various codeshare flights, scheduled for 7:05pm, delayed to 8:05pm.
- Bahrain: Air Arabia Abu Dhabi 3L016 and Etihad EY1371, scheduled for 12:10pm, delayed to 12:55pm.
20 October Air Arabia archive: Sharjah and Abu Dhabi
Air Arabia is also facing service disruptions across its Abu Dhabi and Sharjah hubs, affecting a wide range of destinations in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi has cancelled services to Sohag, Cairo Sphinx, Kuwait, and Colombo. Air Arabia Sharjah has reported a broader list of cancellations, including flights to Riyadh, Abha, Jizan, Al Jouf, Kuwait, Doha, Islamabad, Chattogram, Dhaka, Cairo Sphinx, Najaf, and Almaty.
What the October report said about disruption causes
The primary driver for the current wave of cancellations to Saudi Arabia is regional disruption. Data from aviation analytics company Cirium shows that Saudi Arabia’s flight network has been under extreme pressure; on 19 October, Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport recorded a disruption rate of 66.06%, with 181 of 274 scheduled departures affected.
While many of these disruptions are linked to the regional security situation and airspace restrictions, it is important to note that not all delays are directly related to conflict; some may stem from technical or operational reasons. For a deeper look at how the region manages these periods, see our guide on UAE tourism safety during regional tensions.
Essential Advice for Travellers
Given the volatile nature of flight schedules during this period, passengers should not assume that a service will operate as originally planned. To minimise travel disruption, follow these steps:
- Verify directly with the airline: Check your flight status via the airline’s official website or mobile app before leaving for the airport.
- Monitor communications: Look for SMS or email notifications from your carrier regarding schedule changes or rebooking options.
- Confirm terminal and timing: Always double-check departure times and terminal information through the official airport website, as these can change at short notice.
- Plan for the current itinerary: Check the operating carrier’s check-in deadline and connection instructions. Extra airport time does not make a cancelled flight operate; contact the carrier or booking agent about a disrupted connection before assuming an old listed delay applies to your journey.
