Delta's top boss, Ed Bastian, told CNBC the airline is evaluating whether to proceed with its planned Riyadh launch following a surge in strikes in the country. He said, "Obviously, we were disappointed to see the news this week," adding, "Safety is is going to make the call." Iran-backed Houthi rebels based in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attacks, and Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said three people were killed at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport.
Delta has the Atlanta to Riyadh route slated to begin Oct. 23. The plan is daily flights through Oct. 30, then switching to three times a week. At the time of the announcement earlier this year, Delta noted the route would be the first nonstop linking the U.S. and Riyadh to be flown by a U.S. airline.
New long-haul routes are multi-year bets on business travel demand. Market Briefs covers aviation free every weekday.
Bastian said customers will get an update soon. Separately, a Lufthansa spokesman told CNBC the German airline has suspended flights to Saudi Arabia until at least Oct. 16. If your itinerary involves Riyadh, keep an eye on airline alerts and schedules.
New long-haul routes often reflect demand and deeper partnerships, but safety calls can reshuffle timelines. If this launch slips or scales back, expect fewer seats and potentially higher fares on trips to the Gulf, especially for travelers heading out of Atlanta.
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