Riyadh Air Has Moved Its Flights 375km Out of Riyadh: London Heathrow and Five Other Routes Now Fly From Al Qassim, With a Free Coach From the Capital — What Passengers Must Do Before They Travel

Since October 25, Riyadh Air’s flights to London Heathrow, Cairo, Jeddah, Dhaka, Lahore and Islamabad no longer leave from Riyadh. They depart from Al Qassim’s Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport (ELQ), near Buraydah, roughly 375km away by road. Passengers starting in Riyadh check in at a city hotel and take a free coach. The move follows two weeks of Houthi missile and drone attacks on King Khalid International Airport. Cirium data shows 45.1% of Saudi departures were cancelled or marked “no-fly” between October 8 and 25.

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✈️ PART 1: What Has Changed

From Sunday October 25, Riyadh Air flies six routes from Al Qassim instead of Riyadh:

Riyadh Air’s other destinations, including Dubai, Mumbai, Manila, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, are not part of the Al Qassim plan for now. The airline has not said how long the arrangement will last. Saudia has also moved some Riyadh operations to Al Qassim and offers its own free buses.

Aerospace Global News reported one-off flights from London Heathrow, Madrid and Bangkok into Al Qassim on October 22, with a free bus on to Riyadh.

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🚌 PART 2: How the Transfer Works

Things to know:

• Journey time: Riyadh Air puts the coach at about 4 hours 30 minutes. Other outlets quote 3–4 hours. The road distance is about 375km.
• No online check-in and no connections at Al Qassim.
• Rebooking: passengers booked to or from London, Cairo, Islamabad, Lahore, Dhaka or Jeddah can rebook to or from Al Qassim for travel up to November 7.
• Already in Al Qassim or travelling on your own: you can go straight to ELQ.

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🛡️ PART 3: Why It Happened

The coalition said on October 22 that Riyadh’s airport had been targeted 20 times this month, killing 17 people and injuring 333. The worst single strike hit the passenger terminal on October 10, killing 12 people on the first count and 13 in later reports.

Early on Sunday October 25, explosions were heard in Riyadh as coalition air defences intercepted a ballistic missile and two drones aimed at the capital, plus a cruise missile aimed at Khamis Mushait.

Is Riyadh Airport open?

King Khalid International announced that Terminal 1 (domestic) and Terminal 2 (international) would resume operations on October 25. Reports differ on what “reopened” means:

• Semafor reported an official reopening on October 18, but most flights were cancelled and every flight needed prior permission under a NOTAM.
• AeroCorner reports that the October 25 resumption covers Saudi airlines, and that most foreign carriers are staying away into November.

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📊 PART 4: The Numbers (Cirium, October 8–25)

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🌍 PART 5: Other Airlines’ Saudi Status (as reported October 25–26)

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⚠️ PART 6: Safety

Moving to Al Qassim puts distance between passengers and Riyadh’s airport, but it does not make the route safe. Houthi attacks have reached Riyadh, Dammam, Abha and Khamis Mushait, so no Saudi airport should be treated as out of range. That is our assessment, not an official statement.

The US State Department has ordered non-emergency government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia. It says the order applies only to Saudi Arabia. Check your own government’s advice before travelling:

• UK: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/saudi-arabia
• US: travel.state.gov
• Australia: smartraveller.gov.au
• Canada: travel.gc.ca

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🧾 PART 7: Your Rights

Riyadh Air is a Saudi carrier. UK261 applies to flights departing UK airports, so the Heathrow-to-Saudi leg is covered. Flights leaving Saudi Arabia fall under Saudi rules and the airline’s conditions of carriage.

• UK-departing leg: if the airline cancels or fundamentally changes your journey, UK261 gives you the choice of a refund or rerouting. Whether a 375km coach ride counts as a fundamental change is arguable. Put your request in writing and ask for the refund explicitly.
• Compensation: missile attacks are very likely “extraordinary circumstances”, so fixed cash compensation is unlikely. Refund and care rights are a separate question.
• Saudi-departing legs: your protection is the airline’s own terms. Ask what it will do if a flight is cancelled after you have made the coach journey.
• Travel insurance: check the war and civil-unrest exclusions and any government-advisory clause before you rely on cover.

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🌐 PART 8: Who Is Most Affected

• UK: London Heathrow passengers to and from Riyadh.
• UK, Canada and Australia diaspora: the Dhaka, Lahore and Islamabad routes serve large communities. Many travellers will be connecting through Riyadh.
• Umrah travellers: the Jeddah route is included, but check your tour operator and ATOL protection.
• US: no US airline flies to Riyadh, and Delta’s launch is postponed to March 2027.

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✅ PART 9: Checklist

1. Check whether your booking shows Riyadh (RUH) or Al Qassim (ELQ).
2. Find Riyadh Air’s “Flights via Al Qassim” notice and read the coach times for your flight.
3. Allow for 3–4.5 hours on the coach and about 1h45 at the airport. There is no online check-in at ELQ.
4. If you are connecting, confirm with the airline in writing. Al Qassim departures offer no connections.
5. If the plan does not suit you, request a refund or rebooking (up to November 7) before you travel.
6. Keep every receipt and message, including coach tickets and hotel bills.
7. Read your government’s travel advice and your insurance wording before you leave.
8. Check Riyadh Air’s page again before departure. The arrangement could change at short notice.

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🔗 Related Articles

• Saudi Arabia Airline Suspensions October 22, 2026: Full List
• Saudi Arabia Travel Warning After Houthi Airport Attacks
• Riyadh Airport Third Attack, October 11

Posted By : Vinay

As a lead contributor for Travel Tourister, Vinay is dedicated to serving our Tier 1 audience (US, UK, Canada, Australia). His mission is to deliver precise, fact-checked news and actionable, data-driven articles that empower readers to make informed decisions, minimize travel risks, and maximize their adventure without compromising safety or budget.