Manchester Airport flights cancelled October 2026: Riyadh Air halts

Manchester Airport flights cancelled in October 2026 include the Riyadh Air services to and from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday 13 October. According to the Manchester Evening News, the airline has cancelled flight RX417 from Manchester and flight RX418 from Riyadh. The cancellations follow Saturday 10 October’s attack on King Khalid International Airport.

Riyadh Air has not said which later flights will be affected and is announcing cancellations day by day. It flies between Manchester and Riyadh three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Manchester Airport passenger updates: who is affected

The disruption affects anyone booked on Riyadh Air between Manchester and the Saudi capital, including those connecting onwards. The Manchester Evening News reported that all flights at King Khalid International Airport have been suspended until Saturday 17 October. This follows a Houthi missile attack on Saturday 10 October that killed 13 people and injured more than 300. On Sunday 11 October a Pakistani man was killed in an attack on another terminal, Saudi authorities said.

Riyadh Air launched its Manchester route only a month ago. For passengers booked to travel until 24 October, it is offering one free change or a refund. Rebooking must be on a Riyadh Air flight to the same destination and in the same cabin. It must be made in a single transaction and fall within 21 days of the original travel date.

Refunds cover unused sectors and extras such as seat selection and excess baggage. They are net of non-refundable taxes and go back to the original form of payment. The airline said its support lines are busier than usual: “We’re experiencing higher volumes than usual, response times may be a little longer.” It advises anyone departing more than 24 hours from now to wait and contact it closer to travel.

What to do if a flight is cancelled in the UK

Government guidance says that if you depart from a UK airport on any airline, you are entitled to a full refund or an alternative flight if it is cancelled. The same guidance says the rule also covers flights arriving in the UK on an EU or UK airline. On that wording, the outbound RX417 from Manchester falls inside the UK rules, while an inbound flight from Riyadh on a Saudi-owned carrier is not listed. Riyadh Air’s own policy still offers rebooking or a refund on both.

Consider a passenger due to fly on Thursday 15 October. Twenty-one days from that date runs to 5 November, so they could move to any available Riyadh Air flight inside that period, once, at no charge. If they would rather not travel, they can ask for the full fare back.

The Civil Aviation Authority’s chief executive, Rob Bishton, said in May that airlines “should offer a choice between a refund or alternative travel arrangements, including with another airline, if a flight is cancelled.” The government also advises speaking first to your airline, travel agent or tour operator, and checking you have appropriate travel insurance.

Foreign Office advice and what happens next

After the attack, the Foreign Office updated its Saudi Arabia guidance, according to the Manchester Evening News. It now advises against all travel within 10km of the Yemen border. It also advises against all but essential travel to Aseer, Riyadh, Najran and Jizan provinces and to Taif, Jeddah and Dammam. The advice covers all but essential travel to every Saudi airport except Medina International Airport.

British nationals wishing to leave Saudi Arabia are advised to travel by land to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE or Jordan and fly from there. The Foreign Office asks travellers to plan carefully and read the entry and exit requirements.

With the Saudi airport suspended until Saturday 17 October, the airline has confirmed no cancellations beyond Tuesday 13 October. Passengers should check its website each day.

Your questions answered

Is Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport closed?

None of the sources reports a closure of Terminal 3 or any other terminal at Manchester Airport. The disruption described is the cancellation of Riyadh Air flights because of the situation in Saudi Arabia. Check with your airline for departure details.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled in the UK?

If your flight departs from a UK airport, you are entitled to a refund or re-routing, whichever airline you fly with, according to government guidance. For significant delays of at least 2 hours short-haul, 3 hours medium-haul or 4 hours long-haul, you are entitled to care and assistance, including food, drink and overnight accommodation where necessary.

Why are British airlines cancelling flights?

The sources do not show British airlines cancelling Manchester flights this week, and Riyadh Air is a Saudi airline. Earlier this year, the government cited the Middle East conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It said UK airlines reported no jet fuel shortage. Its analysis found around 1,200 UK departures cancelled between 3 May and 14 June 2026, under 1% of those planned.