Riyadh Air shifts routes to Al-Qassim airport

Riyadh Air has moved six of its routes from Riyadh to Al-Qassim airport (ELQ), including flights to London-Heathrow, Cairo, Jeddah, Dhaka, Lahore, and Islamabad. This change will take effect on October 25, 2026, and includes a free bus transfer for passengers traveling from Riyadh.

Travel logistics under the new arrangement

Passengers departing from Riyadh will check in at the InterContinental Durrat Al Riyadh hotel, where travel documents are verified and luggage is handled before the free bus to Al-Qassim airport. Check-in at the hotel must begin eight hours and fifteen minutes before the flight and end six hours and thirty minutes before departure.

Timing details for the new process

The bus departs six hours and fifteen minutes before the flight and arrives at the airport approximately one hour and forty-five minutes before departure. This allows passengers to complete security checks and, for international flights, border police procedures with luggage already checked in.

Recommendations for direct airport travelers

Riyadh Air advises passengers who prefer to go directly to the airport to plan for a four-hour drive from Riyadh and arrive at least three hours before departure. At the airport, check-in and baggage drop close one hour and fifteen minutes before the flight.

Partial reopening of King Khalid International Airport

King Khalid International Airport began a partial reopening on October 24, with Terminal 1 designated for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights by national carriers. However, this does not mean all international operations have resumed.

Context of the airport’s partial reopening

The airport had suspended operations after a Houthi attack on October 10, which targeted the terminal. The coalition reported intercepting ten ballistic missiles, two drones, and another missile aimed at Riyadh, highlighting the ongoing security threat.

Riyadh Air’s strategy and challenges

The shift to Al-Qassim airport allows Riyadh Air to resume certain routes by separating the departure point from the actual airport. However, this requires passengers to manage check-in at a different location, road transport, and baggage handling, making the process more complex than a direct departure from Riyadh.

Detailed schedules show the reorganization

Riyadh Air has published detailed schedules that illustrate the complexity of the new travel process, showing the extended time required for check-in, transportation, and airport procedures compared to a direct flight from the capital.