RIYADH, 22 March 2003 — Saudi Arabian Airlines resumed flights to Hafr Al-Baten, Qaisooma, Turaif, Al-Jouf, Wajh and Gurayyat after suspending flights to these northern airports for seven hours after the launch of the US-led war on Iraq.
The national carrier stopped its flights to the six airports after receiving instructions from higher authorities. Saudia has halted operations to Kuwait.
The airline resumed daytime flights to the six airports on Thursday after the US forces halted airstrikes after a morning attack. Flights had been stopped from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday.
Informed sources at Tabuk Airport told Arab News that Saudia canceled two flights from Tabuk to Gurayyat and Jouf and back on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Saudia canceled five international flights from Riyadh to Kuwait, Karachi and London and two flights to Damascus on March 28 and 30.
The measure was taken, according to official sources, to protect passengers and aircraft. Saudia operated two flights from Riyadh to Oman and Dubai on Thursday on time while a Kuwait Airways flight arrived in Riyadh from Kuwait slightly late.
Meanwhile, Gulf Air announced changes in its flight schedule. It said the flight time from Bahrain to Europe and Tehran will increase by 45 minutes.
Gulf Air flights from London, Frankfurt and Paris to Bahrain arrived on time, an official said.
The flight time to Amman, Damascus, Beirut and Larnaca has been increased by 50 minutes. Capt. Hameed Ali, vice president of Gulf Air, said the changes in the schedule were made for the protection of passengers and aircraft.
A Swiss Air manager in the Kingdom said his airline had developed a plan for the war. “Swiss Air will continue its flights to the Gulf regularly,” he said, adding that the airline is not planning to change its flight schedule.
British Airways also said that there was no change in its flight timetable. “We have no plan to reduce the number of flights at the moment,” he added.
But Air France said it was changing its schedule from March 30. The airline’s flights from Paris to Riyadh will stop in both Cairo and Jeddah.
