Delta Air Lines May Scrap New 15-Hour Route Before 1st Departure: Here's Why

Credit: Angel DiBilio | Shutterstock, Simple Flying Published Sep 22, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT Journalist – Aaron is an aviation and travel journalist with 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. His background spans airport operations, aviation infrastructure, and travel consulting, having worked with global organizations across New Zealand, Europe, and North America. Combining industry expertise with firsthand travel experience across more than 52 countries and five continents, Aaron covers airlines, airports, aviation policy, and the wider travel sector. He is based in Canterbury, New Zealand. His work has been published in Simple Flying and featured by MSN, SAM CHUI Aviation & Travel, EIN News, Pakistan Defence, and Climate Depot. Sign in to your Simple Flying account A new nonstop flight from the United States to Saudi Arabia could be shelved before it even takes flight. There is growing speculation that ongoing geopolitical tension in the Middle East, paired with recent attacks on Aramco infrastructure near Riyadh Airport, could see Delta Air Lines proposed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport(ATL) to Riyadh Airport (RUH) service postponed indefinitely, or perhaps even canceled altogether. In a report by Enilria, Delta is said to be deciding whether to begin the new route by the end of this week, about 30 days before its intended October 23 start. This route would mark the first nonstop flight to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, by any US carrier. Delta's New Riyadh Service Could Be Shelved Before Launch Credit: Ryken Papy | Shutterstock The United States Department of State has issued a travel warning to Level 3 (Reconsider Travel). This is due to increased risks of being exposed to armed conflict, terrorism, and missile or drone attacks. Level 3 is one level short of Level 4 (Do Not Travel), which includes areas near the Yemen border. Loading map… Drag to explore Delta's planned flight to Riyadh is currently scheduled to depart from Atlanta on October 23, with a daily service for the first week till October 30, before transitioning to thrice-weekly flights from November 1. Full schedule below as per the carrier's website: Flight Number Frequency Dep. Airport Dep. Time Arr. Airport Arr. Time Aircraft DL318 Daily (October 23 to 30), 3x Weekly (From November 1) Atlanta (ATL) 10:30 PM Riyadh (RUH) 7:35 PM + 1 Day Airbus A350-900 DL317 Daily (October 23 to 30), 3x Weekly (From November 1) Riyadh (RUH) 11:30 PM Atlanta (ATL) 7:05 AM + 1 Day Airbus A350-900 Security Alerts Could Threaten The SkyTeam Carrier's First Flight To The Kingdom Credit: Minh K Tran | Shutterstock With Delta set to become the first US carrier to fly to the Saudi Kingdom, its plans could be threatened by security alerts that have cited the current unsafe environment. American citizens already in Saudi Arabia are urged to remain vigilant and follow all official guidance. This has resulted in several airlines operating to and from the Middle East reconsidering operations amid fresh risks from the ongoing conflict in Yemen and the Saudi war. While Delta may still proceed with the service, there is speculation that the airline could be making changes to the service by the end of the week. On Friday night, air raid sirens echoed across Riyadh after Aramco fuel storage facilities were targeted by Yemen's Houthi rebels. The drone and missile attacks ignited the fuel storage facility, which saw black smoke clouds near the airport grounds, forcing many flights to either be canceled or delayed. Delta's Partnership With Riyadh Air Credit: Karolis Kavolelis | Shutterstock With the latest incident casting a shadow on the upcoming Delta nonstop service to the Kingdom, this has raised questions about whether the airline will continue with the service as planned. Delta is hoping to establish a stronger presence in the region and tap into the growing tourism and business ties with Saudi Arabia. For Delta, its partnership with startup carrier Riyadh Air, which was signed in July 2024, will eventually see a strong collaboration between the two airlines, with Riyadh Air set to begin its own flights to the United States, receiving approval from the US Department Of Transportation (DOT) this June. Flights to and from Riyadh will be fed through Delta's largest hub, Atlanta. The airline dominates this Georgia airport, with travelers gaining access to more than 150 nonstop destinations. The Saudi Air Connectivity Program will also support this route with funding to reduce the risk of launching the new service and will help by underwriting the long-haul service.