Riyadh Air moves flights to Al Qassim with 4.5-hour coach link

Riyadh Air intends to resume flights from Al Qassim Airport (ELQ) from 25 October 2026, after Houthi attacks disrupted operations at Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH). Passengers starting in Riyadh will need to take a complimentary coach lasting about 4.5 hours to reach the new departure airport, according to One Mile at a Time.

Why the airline is moving

One Mile at a Time reports that RUH has been bombed by the Houthis several times in recent weeks, leading to at least 15 deaths and more than 300 injuries. The site also reports extensive damage, including a Saudia Airbus A320 destroyed and several other aircraft damaged.

Operations at the airport were suspended for a time and have reportedly resumed only in a limited capacity for cargo aircraft. The report says RUH is operating only with prior permission and that passenger flights have not resumed. Riyadh Air had suspended operations and moved its aircraft out of Riyadh, following reports that at least one of its new Dreamliners was damaged.

Routes and the Al Qassim hub

Al Qassim Airport is around 250 miles (400 kilometres) from Riyadh. According to One Mile at a Time, Riyadh Air will initially resume flights from there to:

• Cairo (CAI)
• Dhaka (DAC)
• Islamabad (ISB)
• Jeddah (JED)
• London Heathrow (LHR)
• Lahore (LHE)

The author notes that Al Qassim could in theory also be a target, though recent attacks have centred on Riyadh.

How the coach transfer works

Passengers can still begin their journey in Riyadh. Check-in takes place at the InterContinental Hotel Durrat Al Riyadh, and a complimentary coach then runs to Al Qassim Airport. The report gives these details:

• Hotel check-in is open from two hours to 15 minutes before the coach departs.
• The coach journey takes 4.5 hours.
• The coach is due to arrive 30 minutes before the baggage cut-off for flights.

What this means for travellers

Anyone booked on Riyadh Air from 25 October should check their itinerary and confirm the departure airport and coach timings with the airline. The journey from Riyadh will add several hours to the travel day, so onward connections, ground transport and hotel plans may need adjusting. Passengers should allow for hotel check-in, which closes 15 minutes before the coach leaves. The sources do not say whether further routes will be added, how long the arrangement will last, or when Riyadh Air will return to RUH.

Sources: One Mile at a Time