EASA broadens Saudi airspace conflict warning to Riyadh and Dammam

Intensified attacks on capital airport prompt alert to avoid section of kingdom’s northern airspace.
Europe’s safety regulator has tightened recommended airspace restrictions for Saudi Arabia following intensified paramilitary activity from Houthi forces.

The new restriction, which took effect on 9 October, features a new region of concern encompassing Riyadh international airport, with a boundary running from the Kuwait flight information region to the Doha FIR of Qatar.

This also covers Dammam airport, as well as the airports of Al Qaisumah and Al Ahsa.

Previous limitations in the south of Saudi Arabia, from the Yemen border north to Taif, have been further expanded to include the city of Madinah – which also effectively affects Jeddah.

The measure narrows the corridor available to international traffic using Saudi airspace as a crossing point.

Riyadh and its airport have been subjected to “repeated missile and drone attacks” during an escalation of military activity in late September and early October, says the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

“During this period, attacks also showed a greater focus on aviation infrastructure than previously, increasing risks to aircraft on the ground and during take-off and landing in the affected areas,” it adds.

EASA has defined the northern boundary as a region within the Jeddah FIR running connected by the ULBAM, TOTEB, DURMA, LAKSO and SOLAT waypoints.

Its southern boundary runs along RIBOK, BOSUT, MIGDA, RAGNO, MIXUG, DEKLO, OBSAM and SILPA.

“Exercise caution and take potential risks into account when operating in the remainder of the FIR Jeddah,” adds EASA.

The post EASA broadens Saudi airspace conflict warning to Riyadh and Dammam first appeared on FlightGlobal.