Malaysia Airlines has cancelled flights to Jeddah and Madinah from Oct 12 to 17 amid regional security concerns, offering passengers refunds or free rebooking.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines has cancelled all flights connecting Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Johor Bahru (JHB) with Jeddah (JED) and Madinah (MED) from Oct 12 to 17 following a reported attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport.
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) said the cancellations were a precautionary measure amid heightened security concerns in the region, with passenger and crew safety remaining its top priority.
The disruption affects both outbound and return flights, potentially affecting travel plans for Malaysians performing umrah.
Affected passengers can request a full refund or rebook their flights within 30 days of their original departure date at no additional cost.
“Passengers may opt for a full refund or rebook their flights to a later date at no additional cost,” MAG said in a statement today.
Passengers can make arrangements through the My Booking feature on the Malaysia Airlines website or mobile application, via Live Chat or through its Global Contact Centre at 1-300-88-3000 for domestic calls and +603-7843-3000 for international calls.
MAG urged travellers to update their contact details to receive flight notifications, adding that services to and from Doha (DOH), Qatar, remain operational.
Meanwhile, Malaysian umrah pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah were reported to be safe, with religious activities continuing as usual despite the security developments.
Independent mutawif Ahmad Saiful Maznan Muhamad told Bernama Radio that Malaysian pilgrims under his supervision remained calm, although their families back home had expressed concern.
He advised prospective pilgrims to monitor official announcements from airlines and travel agencies and consider direct flights to minimise potential transit disruptions.
Malaysians requiring assistance were also encouraged to contact the Malaysian Consulate in Jeddah.
The reported attack on King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and injured 309 others, prompting authorities to temporarily suspend airport operations.
MAG said it would continue monitoring regional developments and apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers.