One United States airline is postponing the debut of a highly anticipated new route to the Middle East amid continued conflict in the region.
Delta Air Lines announced on Monday that it would be delaying the launch of its new nonstop service from Atlanta (ATL) to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (RUH), after a series of fatal missile and drone attacks on the Saudi capital city’s airport passenger terminal.
“The safety and security of our customers and employees always come first and continue to guide our operational decisions,” the airline said in a statement on Monday. “We remain in close contact with relevant government and aviation partners, including Saudia and Riyadh Air, as we monitor the situation.”
The new route to Riyadh is notable because when it launches, it will be the first-ever nonstop flight between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
Upon first announcing the new service, the Atlanta-based carrier said Saudi Arabia was one of the world’s most important and fast-growing regions.
Now the carrier is postponing the route’s debut by at least five months.
“Saudi Arabia remains an important market for Delta, and we are committed to serving the Kingdom for the long-term,” the airline said. “We look forward to connecting Saudi Arabia to Delta's global network in March 2027.”
Service was initially set to begin on October 23.
The carrier said that travelers affected by the postponement can log into the My Trips section of Delta’s website or app to review their options, including receiving a refund, rebooking flights, or making other changes to their trip.
Riyadh’s airport remains closed to all air traffic until at least October 17 amid the ongoing conflict, according to Reuters.
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