Riyadh Air has temporarily transferred selected passenger operations from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh to Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport at Al Qassim, about 400 kilometres northwest of the capital. The arrangement, effective from 25 October, covers flights to Cairo, Dhaka, Jeddah, London Heathrow, Lahore and Islamabad, with passengers facing a lengthy ground transfer before departure.[1][2]
The airline is operating a reduced schedule from Al Qassim after suspending flights following missile attacks that disrupted operations at King Khalid International Airport. Riyadh Air’s current arrangement is a contingency measure rather than a permanent relocation of its base, with a return to Riyadh planned once normal operations become possible.[1][2]
Passengers can use a complimentary coach from the InterContinental Durrat Al Riyadh. Document checks, baggage acceptance and check-in can be completed at the hotel before the road journey to Al Qassim, although travellers may also make their own way to the substitute airport. Reported journey times range from about three and a half to four and a half hours.[1]
Several other routes, including Madrid, have been cancelled or suspended as part of the reduced schedule. Riyadh Air has offered free rebooking in some cases for travel through 7 November, subject to the latest passenger advisory. The temporary transfer allows the carrier to maintain a limited international network while King Khalid remains only partially usable after the attacks.[2]