PAL halts Manila-Riyadh route amid Saudi tensions
Philippine Airlines has canceled two Manila-Riyadh-Manila flights on Thursday, Oct. 8, as it monitored the mounting tensions in the Saudi region.
"Philippine Airlines is canceling flight PR654 and PR655 Manila-Riyadh-Manila on October 8, 2026, in light of the developing situation in the region," PAL wrote in an advisory sent to the media.
"Our operational teams are assessing airport conditions and their implications for subsequent flights. Affected passengers will be informed of the cancellations and available travel options," the advisory continued.
"The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority," it added.
Cebu Pacific, the other Philippine-based airline with regular flights to Riyadh, has not issued a similar statement. However, on its website, 11 discounted flights are still available from Manila to the Saudi Arabian capital.
As of writing, AirAsia also continues to offer several flights from Manila to Riyadh for select dates in October.
On Wednesday, Oct. 7, Saudi authorities confirmed that attacks against two of the kingdom's international airports, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, were claimed by Yemen's Houthis, an Islamist political and paramilitary group.
The attacks collectively claimed three civilian lives and injured 36, according to a statement from the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation, cited by Al Jazeera. The attack on the Riyadh airport killed a Sudanese citizen and injured eight residents, which included five Saudi citizens.
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