Missile and drone downed over south, PIA still suspended

A ballistic missile and a drone aimed at southern Saudi Arabia were intercepted on 1 November, and PIA's Riyadh flights remain suspended with no date. Anadolu Agency reports that the coalition spokesman, Turki al-Maliki, announced the two interceptions on Sunday 1 November in separate statements that named no target and reported no casualties or damage, and that warnings issued early that day for Abha and Khamis Mushait were later lifted. Hours earlier, the coalition said it had carried out an operation against resources the Houthis use for ballistic missiles and drones.

These reports appeared after this thread's update of 1 November, which recorded no interception since 31 October. Gulf News's list for Monday 2 November again shows PIA's Riyadh services suspended with no resumption date, and the Pakistan Airports Authority's last statement said PIA's other Saudi services continue. Saudia operates its Riyadh services through Al Qassim with coach transfers, flyadeal has moved its Riyadh services there with coaches from Riyadh bus station, and Riyadh Air has some Riyadh flights cancelled to 5 November, with flexibility for passengers travelling to 7 November.

Connections through the UAE remain limited: Emirates' EK801 to Jeddah and the return EK802 were cancelled for the fourth day running while EK803 to EK806 were scheduled, every Dubai flight to Riyadh and Dammam was cancelled and its Madinah flights were listed as scheduled or arrived; flydubai cancelled its Dammam, Riyadh, Abha and Tabuk flights on 2 November while its Jeddah, Madinah, Gassim, Ha'il and Taif flights were listed as scheduled, estimated or arrived; Etihad's Riyadh, Dammam and EY601 to EY604 Jeddah services are cancelled through 5 November; and Air Arabia's Sharjah flights to Riyadh and Abha were cancelled. Among other airlines, Akasa Air's Jeddah flights are suspended to 18 November and its Riyadh flights to 30 November, Air India's and Air India Express's Riyadh and Dammam flights to 14 November, and Gulf News's list still gives 31 October as the end date for Oman Air's Riyadh and SalamAir's Riyadh and Dammam cancellations with no later date announced, so pilgrims connecting through Muscat should confirm directly with the airline. Confirm your flight, your terminal at Jeddah and your onward transport to Makkah with the airline or your Umrah operator before leaving for the airport, and follow Civil Defence alerts while in the Kingdom.