Air France has suspended all flights to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, until July 24 and to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, until July 27, according to reports. The move comes amid heightened regional security concerns and follows recent Houthi threats against Saudi airspace.
At 22:00 Jerusalem, a new report indicates Air France has suspended flights to Riyadh until July 24 and to Dubai until July 27, rolling back the extended suspension to July 25 and July 28 that The Zioneer reported earlier this evening. The change comes amid ongoing regional tensions and follows a sequence of conflicting updates about the duration of the suspension.
The Zioneer first reported the cancellations at 21:35 Jerusalem, initially without specified dates. At 21:35, N12 reported a one-week suspension. Soon after, an Iranian report specified the dates as July 24 and July 27. By 21:35, further reports extended the suspension to July 25 and July 28, according to The Zioneer's coverage. The latest report now returns to the earlier dates, suggesting the airline may be adjusting its schedule in real time or that the extension was erroneous.
The suspensions are set against a backdrop of heightened regional security. The Houthi movement declared a no-fly zone over all Saudi airspace on Tuesday, July 14, warning airlines to avoid Saudi airspace. A state of alert was declared at all Saudi airports on Monday, July 13, amid fears of a Houthi attack. The Zioneer also reported on July 3 that Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree had threatened Saudi airports, and on June 17 that President Trump said Saudi airports are used for US strikes on Iran, drawing IRGC threats against Riyadh. These factors have contributed to disruption of air travel to the region.
The reason for the revision of the suspension dates remains unclear. The latest report is based on a single source, and Air France has not issued an official statement. The evolving situation continues to affect airline operations, and further updates are expected.
3 developments
- DevelopingAir France cancels flights to Israel through June 21
- StrongFlight from Dubai to Israel delayed, circles mid-air due to fire toward Jordan
- DevelopingIran says flights between Tehran and Dubai to resume July 1
- DevelopingIran reports resumption of flights between Shiraz and Dubai after five-month hiatus
Source and signal
- Internal intake