Riyadh Air moves six Riyadh routes to Al Qassim airport from 25 October, with a free coach from the city

Riyadh Air has temporarily moved flights between Riyadh and six destinations to Al Qassim Airport (ELQ) from 25 October 2026, according to a travel update on the airline's website. The routes concerned are those to Cairo, Dhaka, Jeddah, London Heathrow, Lahore and Islamabad.

Passengers can check in at the InterContinental Durrat Al Riyadh hotel, where check-in opens 8 hours 15 minutes before departure and closes 6 hours 30 minutes before. A complimentary coach leaves 6 hours 15 minutes before the flight, with the boarding pass shown to staff. The airline puts the journey at about four and a half hours, arriving at ELQ around 1 hour 45 minutes before departure; bags are checked through, so passengers go straight to security and passport control.

Travellers who prefer to make their own way can drive to Al Qassim, which Riyadh Air says takes about four hours by car. They should arrive at the airport at least three hours before the flight, as check-in at ELQ opens three hours before departure and closes 1 hour 15 minutes before.

The airline describes the arrangement as temporary but gives no end date. Riyadh Air asks passengers to check their booking for their confirmed airport and journey details, choose one of the two options and follow its timings closely, as a long road transfer now forms part of the trip.