Cebu Pacific Extends Manila–Riyadh Flight Cancellations Through Oct. 31 Amid Middle East Conflict
Key Takeaways
- •Cebu Pacific extended the cancellation of its Manila–Riyadh flights through Oct. 31, 2026, citing the worsening security situation in the Middle East.
- •The move follows attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport, which Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for.
- •Affected travelers may choose free rebooking, conversion of their booking into a travel fund, or a refund, with the airline warning of possible further schedule adjustments.
- •Philippine Airlines has also suspended Riyadh flights until Nov. 29, meaning both Philippine carriers serving the Saudi capital have halted the route.
- •In a separate disclosure, Cebu Air reported a second-quarter attributable net loss of P5.49 billion, a swing from a P8.51-billion profit a year earlier, while its shares closed down 1.47% at P23.50.
Cebu Pacific has extended the cancellation of its flights between Manila and Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, until Oct. 31 amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
“CEB continues to closely monitor and assess developments in the Middle East amid the escalating security situation in the region,” the budget carrier said in a statement on Wednesday.
The extension follows reported attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia, for which Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility.
“The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain our priority. CEB has taken the decision to cancel flights to and from Riyadh scheduled until Oct. 31, 2026,” the airline said.
Cebu Pacific initially cancelled its Manila–Riyadh flights scheduled from Oct. 9 to 13 before extending the suspension through the end of the month.
Affected passengers may choose among free rebooking, conversion of their bookings into a travel fund, or a refund, the carrier said. It added that further flight adjustments may be necessary depending on developments in the Middle East.
Riyadh is a key international destination for Philippine carriers, serving travel between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia, which hosts a large community of overseas Filipino workers. The Houthis, an Iran-aligned group that controls much of northern Yemen, have claimed attacks on airports and other targets in Saudi Arabia in recent years.
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines has also suspended its flights to and from Riyadh until Nov. 29, meaning both Philippine carriers serving the Saudi capital now have suspended service on the route.
Separately, Cebu Air, Inc., the operator of Cebu Pacific, reported a second-quarter attributable net loss of P5.49 billion, reversing the attributable net income of P8.51 billion it posted in the same period last year, as expenses outpaced revenue growth.
Shares in Cebu Air fell by 35 centavos, or 1.47%, to close at P23.50 apiece on Wednesday.
— Ashley Erika O. Jose
Source: Bworldonline
