Philippine Airlines (PAL) has extended its suspension of flights between Manila and Riyadh until November 29, citing continuing security concerns after deadly attacks claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The flag carrier said in an advisory on Monday, October 12, that the halt covers flights PR654 and PR655.
PAL said it was still assessing what it called the “evolving security situation” at King Khalid International Airport, where operations were suspended on October 10. The airline first stopped the route on October 8. It said it would continue to monitor developments and issue further updates when needed. Budget carrier Cebu Pacific also cancelled six Manila to Riyadh flights through October 13. The latest suspension is another blow to PAL’s Riyadh service, which the airline also stopped earlier this year at the height of the Iran war.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said the government saw no immediate need to ban the deployment of Filipino workers to Saudi Arabia. He still advised Filipinos to avoid unnecessary travel to the kingdom while security risks remain. He also urged overseas Filipino workers there to avoid sharing unverified information about the attacks online, pointing out that Saudi Arabia has strict laws against spreading false news. Cacdac said officials were helping affected workers to rebook with their airlines.
The Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) are assisting 94 workers whose Riyadh-bound flights were diverted to Jeddah, providing food, transport and accommodation. OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan said 30 Filipinos were reported stranded in Riyadh after the airport closed temporarily. Of these, 20 were staying in hotels paid for by the government or by the two agencies, and seven had been collected by relatives living in the city. Officials said help for those affected would continue while flights remain suspended.
Saudi Arabia is one of the largest destinations for Filipino workers, and the Riyadh route is an important link for families and recruitment agencies. The disruption also affects workers returning from home leave, who must now rebook through other carriers or routes. The extended suspension means travellers will need to rely on other routes or wait until at least the end of November. PAL has said it will keep reviewing the situation, and any earlier resumption will depend on conditions at King Khalid International Airport.
