Health Alert: Riyadh Repatriation Flight, April 3rd

Message for U.S. Citizens – March 31, 2020

Location: Saudi Arabia

Event: The U.S. Mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has arranged with Saudi authorities and Saudia Airlines to offer limited commercial flights from the Kingdom to the United States during the period that regular commercial service is suspended to help contain the COVID-19 virus.

The first Saudia flight will depart Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH) at 9:30 AM on Friday, April 3. It is scheduled to arrive at Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), in Dulles, Virginia, at approximately 4:20 PM EST on April 3.

The U.S. Mission expects to announce additional flights both from Riyadh and from Dhahran and Jeddah in the near future. All future flights will be announced via the STEP system and through the Mission’s website and American Citizens Services Twitter account.

Booking will be conducted exclusively through the process described below. Do not contact Saudia about this flight.

Tickets on the April 3 flight will be available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) of the United States and their spouses and minor children; U.S. citizen minors may be accompanied by one non-U.S. citizen guardian. Given current curfew hours (3 PM to 6 AM in Riyadh) and restrictions on movement between provinces within Saudi Arabia, the April 3 flight will only be available to passengers in the Riyadh metropolitan area.

U.S. citizens and LPRs who wish to travel on this flight and who reside in the Riyadh metropolitan area should complete the online survey at https://bit.ly/2JrozmP. A form should be completed for each individual traveler. The forms are automatically returned to the U.S. Embassy which will review the information and pass it to Saudia; a representative of Saudia will then call the passenger to arrange purchase of tickets. If for any reason you are unable to complete the form, please send an e-mail to RiyadhRepat@state.gov.

While pricing is being finalized, Saudia advises that economy class tickets will cost approximately 6000 SAR and business class tickets approximately 16,000 SAR and will be non-refundable. Saudia is also finalizing luggage and pet policies for this flight and will discuss these with passengers as they are called.

When the flight is fully booked an announcement will be made on the ACS Twitter account. If you have not been booked on the flight at that point you should continue to monitor the U.S. Mission’s media accounts for announcements of additional flights.

All travelers must be properly documented to enter the United States. Travelers are responsible for completing required Saudi exit/reentry permit procedures prior to travel (please see the March 29 Health Alert); it will not be possible to complete these procedures at the airport. As noted in the Alert, prospective passengers should consider CDC guidance on international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, review health conditions at their final destination, and bear in mind that a return to Saudia Arabia will not be possible until full commercial service has been restored.

**Please note: Health screening will be conducted prior to embarkation and anyone with flu-like symptoms or a fever will not be allowed to board a flight and should not come to the airport.

The CDC advises travelers arriving from Saudi Arabia to stay home, monitor their health, and practice social distancing for 14 days after they arrive in the United States. Information regarding screening upon arrival at Dulles International Airport can be found at https://www.flydulles.com/iad/dulles-international-airport-traveler-update-covid-19-coronavirus-0.

Passengers on this flight continuing to a final destination outside the Washington D.C. area should book onward flights before leaving Saudi Arabia. Given the screening procedures upon arrival, they should plan extra time to make connections.

Actions to Take:

Register in STEP and encourage other Americans to do so.
Cooperate with public policies designed to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Stay abreast of local news and information concerning travel restrictions.
For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Saudi Arabia.
Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest restrictions on travel to the United States.