ATOR recommended that tourists check the status of their flight to Saudi Arabia
The Association of Tour Operators of Russia advises tourists to check information about flights due to attacks on Riyadh airport
Quick Look
- The Association of Tour Operators of Russia recommends that tourists check the status of flights to Saudi Arabia due to the attacks on Riyadh airport.
- There are only a few Russian tourists in the country, most of them are safe in Mecca.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Riyadh International Airport was attacked on October 10 and 11, causing casualties and damage to terminals.
Russian tourists planning a trip to or transit through Saudi Arabia are advised to check the flight status with the airline before leaving for the airport.
If the flight is cancelled, tourists must contact the carrier or ticket seller to clarify the conditions for rebooking and refund.
There are currently only a few clients of Russian tour operators in Saudi Arabia, and almost all of them are in Mecca, where there are no attacks and communication with the tour operator is ensured.
MOSCOW, October 12 - RIA Novosti. Russian tourists who plan to travel to Saudi Arabia or in transit through the kingdom are advised to check the flight status with the airline, including before leaving for the airport, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) told RIA Novosti.
“Tourists who are planning to fly to Saudi Arabia or through its airports in transit are advised to check the flight status directly with the airline, including before leaving for the airport,” ATOR said.
They indicated that if the flight is cancelled, it is necessary to contact the carrier or ticket seller to clarify the conditions for rebooking and refund. ATOR emphasized that currently the kingdom is not among the mass destinations of organized tourism.
In addition, at the end of the previous week and on Monday, tour operators noted the beginning of cancellations of paid bookings to Saudi Arabia. “Tourists are in no hurry to cancel tours for longer dates; they are waiting for news about the normalization of the situation,” the association added.
At the moment, there are only a few clients of Russian tour operators in Saudi Arabia, but almost all of them are in Mecca, which is not subject to attacks, and tourists are safe and are in contact with the tour operator.
ATOR emphasized that direct flights with Saudi Arabia were never restored after the conflict in the Middle East and the return flight of tourists is carried out through Istanbul.
“In any case, tourists will be provided with a return connecting flight to Russia even if the airport in Riyadh is closed,” the association concluded.
Riyadh International Airport has come under repeated attacks in recent days - according to the Saudi Arabian Civil Aviation Authority, an attack on October 10 killed 12 people and injured 309, and on October 11, one person was killed and 11 were injured. The impact hit two passenger terminals, where a fire broke out.
Open Questions
- Will there be a complete closure of Riyadh airport?
- When will normal flights resume?
