The airline repositioned three aircraft to AlUla and Medina within 23 minutes, while another Dreamliner flew from Jeddah to Lahore as Riyadh’s airport closure disrupted operations.
Riyadh, 15 October 2026: Riyadh Air repositioned three of its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners from King Khalid International Airport (RUH) on Tuesday, 13 October, moving the aircraft to AlUla and Medina following a series of missile and drone attacks that disrupted operations at its main base. Flight-tracking records indicate that the three widebody aircraft departed within 23 minutes of one another.
A fourth Riyadh Air Dreamliner was also repositioned from Jeddah to Lahore, Pakistan. The movements came as King Khalid International Airport remained closed following the attacks, prompting airlines to suspend or adjust services to the Saudi capital.
Three Dreamliners Depart Riyadh Within 23 Minutes
The three aircraft departed Riyadh on Tuesday afternoon, operating under the flight numbers RX8001, RX8002 and RX8004. According to flight-tracking information, HZ-RXAA and HZ-RXAG flew to AlUla International Airport (ULH), while HZ-RXAC, operating as RX8001, travelled to Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport (MED) in Medina.
The departures took place at 3:16 PM, 3:32 PM and 3:39 PM local time, creating a window of just 23 minutes between the first and last aircraft movements. The flights were not part of the airline’s regular published passenger schedule, indicating that the aircraft were being repositioned rather than deployed on scheduled commercial services.
Reports have also suggested that fighter jets escorted the aircraft out of Riyadh’s airspace. However, this claim remains unconfirmed, and no official confirmation from the Royal Saudi Air Force or Riyadh Air was available in the cited reporting.
Fourth Dreamliner Repositioned from Jeddah to Lahore
In a separate movement, another Boeing 787-9, registered as HZ-RXAE, flew from Jeddah to Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE) in Lahore. Pakistan is among the destinations in Riyadh Air’s planned international network.
The repositioning followed the movement of other aircraft to Jeddah after the closure of Riyadh’s main airport. Flight-tracking reports identified HZ-RXAB as having been parked in Jeddah since 10 October. HZ-RXAD and HZ-RXAF also diverted there that day, while the training aircraft HZ-RXX had been in Jeddah since 8 October.
The aircraft movements indicate an effort to keep the airline’s fleet away from its affected home base while airport operations remain suspended. Riyadh Air has not publicly confirmed all the operational details of the repositioning in the reports cited here.
Riyadh Airport Closure Extended Until 17 October
King Khalid International Airport has faced repeated missile and drone attacks over the past week. A deadly strike on 10 October killed 13 people and injured more than 300, according to reports from international news agencies. The attacks led to the suspension of airport operations while authorities assessed safety and operational readiness.
A Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) subsequently extended the airport closure until 21:00 GMT on 17 October. The shutdown has disrupted regional aviation, with airlines cancelling or suspending flights and adjusting schedules in response to the security situation.
The disruption has also affected international carriers. Delta Air Lines has postponed its planned Atlanta–Riyadh service until at least March 2027, while airlines including Lufthansa Group carriers and Air France-KLM have suspended or adjusted services to the region. The US Federal Aviation Administration has separately issued aviation safety guidance concerning operations in Saudi Arabian airspace.
For Riyadh Air, moving aircraft to other airports represents a significant operational development as the carrier navigates the closure of its home base. The duration of the disruption and the timing of a return to normal operations will depend on airport reopening decisions and the evolving regional security situation.
