FAA warns US airlines of safety risks over Saudi Arabia airspace

Your air cargo and travel plans to the Middle East just hit a major roadblock. The Federal Aviation Administration issued an urgent notice telling all US airlines to be extremely careful when flying into or over Saudi Arabia. This follows two separate military strikes on Riyadh’s international airport on October 10 and 11. The attack on Saturday was severe, killing 13 people and leaving over 300 wounded. The Riyadh airport is now completely shut down for all flights until at least 5 p.m. EDT on Monday. The FAA warns that military activity and navigation interference pose a real risk to planes at any altitude. This notice stays in effect until December 10. If you are waiting on a shipment, expect delays. FedEx, which started a dedicated Boeing 777 freighter route to Riyadh just last month, is likely facing major logistical headaches. Delta Air Lines is scheduled to launch its first direct flight from Atlanta to Riyadh on October 23. Delta CEO Ed Bastian says safety will make the call on whether that flight actually takes off. For your business, this means tracking your goods is more important than ever. If you have inventory coming from Asia or Europe through Saudi hubs, call your freight forwarder today. Disruptions in the sky usually mean higher costs on the ground. It is a reminder that a conflict thousands of miles away can land right on your loading dock.