Delta Air Lines' New 15-Hour Nonstop Route Delayed After Bombings: See Map Now

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines has paused its long-anticipated Riyadh launch. The SkyTeam carrier was set to begin nonstop flights to the Saudi Kingdom from October 26, but they have been moved back to March 2027 due to the ongoing geopolitical tension and two recent major bomb attacks. Nonstop service will take off from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Riyadh Airport (RUH).

Houthi rebels from neighboring Yemen have targeted key infrastructure in and around Riyadh airport, including fuel tanks several weeks ago, and then this week targeting the airport terminal and a nearby Saudia Airbus A320 aircraft. This resulted in the airport halting operations for several hours and many delayed or canceled flights.

Delta Air Lines Plans Daily Services To Riyadh From March 2027

Following the recent attacks, in which 12 were killed and a further 300 injured, questions were n raised about whether Delta would persevere with its planned Riyadh launch. This would see Delta become the only US carrier to operate nonstop flights to Saudi Arabia, and follows the airline's partnership with Riyadh Air, where the carrier would feed into the start-up airline's growing Riyadh network.

Delta is now set to begin daily flights to Riyadh in late March with the Airbus A350-900. The full schedule is detailed in the table below.

Low Interest Has Forced Delta To Offer Sale Fares

Given the ongoing geopolitical tension in the Middle East and recent attacks on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's largest city and home to more than 7 million people, Delta has seen dwindling seat sales on the first few flights. This resulted in the airline offering bargain fares on the service.

This has seen airline critics question the likelihood that Delta would continue with the launch date as planned. Chief Executive Officer Ed Bastian has stated that the final decision will be in the hands of the airline's Safety and Security Department, which will make the call on whether the airline continues. Simple Flying recently requested comment from Delta on its plans, and an airline spokesperson confirmed that the airline had "not announced any changes to our previous announcement."

Just this week, Delta issued its own internal safety warning to team members to warn against travel to Riyadh between October 8 and 12, citing unsafe conditions. This followed the US State Department also issuing a travel alert warning Americans from traveling to Saudi Arabia.

'It Might Not Start In Two Weeks'

Aviation insider JonNYC recently posted on X about a recent statement by the Delta CEO alluding to a potential starting delay. JonNYC said that “the way Ed spoke, I personally don’t think Riyadh will start in two weeks. He was clear that no final decision had been made but stated something to the effect of ‘it may not start in two weeks, but Saudi Arabia is a place Delta will be flying’”. Delta has since officially revealed the postponement.

Riyadh is currently the next on the airline's radar as it taps into a strategic partnership with Riyadh Air. As part of the kingdom's long-term economic growth and tourism goals, Delta looks to work closely with Riyadh Air on domestic and international flight operations. The new route was attracted through the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative, which sees the country diversify from its reliance on oil and otherwise look to building more business and tourism ties.