Flight cancellations disrupt travel in the Middle East on January 6, 2026. Severe weather, such as thick fog, storms, and heavy rain, forces airlines to ground planes. EgyptAir, Saudia, and Royal Jordanian canceled seven flights and delayed 16 more. Airports in Riyadh, Amman, and Dhaka turn into crowded hubs as passengers wait for news.​
EgyptAir Stops Domestic Flights
EgyptAir pulls two flights from its schedule. Flight MSR148 flies from Abu Simbel Airport to Daraw Airport. Pilots set departure for 11:07 AM local time, but fog blocks runways. The return trip MSR149, leaves Daraw for Abu Simbel at 12:22 PM. Bad weather shuts down both routes. Travelers in southern Egypt now scramble for buses or later planes. Cairo International Airport feels the knock-on effects as connections stall.​
Saudia Faces Long-Haul Chaos
Saudia cancels three key flights out of Riyadh. SVA1390 starts at Al-Jouf Domestic Airport and heads to King Khalid International in Riyadh. The plane sits ready from late Monday night, but storms keep it grounded. SVA806 departs Riyadh for Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport at 2:35 AM on Tuesday. Passengers bound for Bangladesh pack the gates with no answers. SVA862 aims for Manila International in the Philippines at 11:40 PM. Asian routes break as rain pounds runways. King Khalid Airport closes sections for safety.​
Royal Jordanian Hits Regional Links
Royal Jordanian drops two flights between Jordan and Syria. RJA433 takes off from Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport to Aleppo International at 10:35 AM. Thick fog hides landmarks and endangers landings. The return RJA434 flies Aleppo back to Amman at 12:55 PM. Tensions in the area mix with the weather to strand groups. Queen Alia staff hand out water and updates to calm crowds.​
Passengers Stuck in Limbo
Thousands fill terminals at King Khalid, Queen Alia, and Shahjalal airports. Rebooking lines stretch for hours with few seats open. Business people miss deals in Dubai or conferences in Cairo. Tourists drop plans for Jordan’s Petra ruins, Dead Sea floats, or Manila beaches. Families sleep on benches as delays push into days. Airlines offer meals, but options run thin.​
Tourism Takes a Direct Blow
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh boom slows without Asian visitors. Egypt loses crowds for ancient temples near Abu Simbel. Jordan gateways clog, blocking trips to Wadi Rum deserts. Hotels near airports book up fast with no end in sight. Local guides wait empty-handed.​
Steps Forward Emerge
Airlines send text alerts and post live boards for changes. Airports run extra safety sweeps to reopen fast. Travelers turn to apps like FlightAware for real-time checks. Governments talk about refunds and better weather tools. Crews work overtime to clear backlogs. Operations creep back as skies clear slightly. Passengers stay patient for smooth takeoffs ahead.
