Dutch airline KLM extends Middle East flight cancellations

Originally suspending flights until 16 May 2026, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has extended cancellations on Middle East routes, with its services to Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia and Dubai in the UAE now suspended until 14 June 2026. 

In an operational update issued on 21 April 2026, the airline said that the extended cancellations are intended to “provide clarity and certainty to travellers scheduled to fly to Riyadh and Damman in the coming weeks.”

KLM also confirmed adjustments to its European schedule, with 80 return flights removed over the coming month. According to the update, these changes relate to routes that are “no longer financially viable” due to higher kerosene costs, but added that there is currently no fuel shortage. Affected passengers will be rebooked onto the next available flight.

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The updates come as airlines continue to respond to disruption across Middle East supply routes following the outbreak of the Iran war on 28 February 2026, which has impacted both airspace and fuel logistics across the world. 

Jet fuel prices rose from around US$831 per tonne before the conflict to a peak of US$1,838 in early April 2026, before easing to approximately US$1,560, according to Bloomberg data. While supply continues to flow, elevated prices are placing pressure on airline margins and route economics. EasyJet reported around US$25 million in additional fuel costs in March 2026.

Airlines are already adjusting operations in response. Cathay Pacific has suspended flights to Dubai and Riyadh until 30 June 2026, while cutting approximately 2% of its passenger flights between May and June. British Airways has also outlined network changes as services resume, including reducing flights to Dubai, Doha and Tel Aviv to one daily service from 1 July, and cutting Riyadh frequencies from two daily flights to one from mid-May. 

For more information, visit www.klm.com