达美航空公司表示，由于利雅得机场遭遇多起致命袭击，将原定于10月23日开通的亚特兰大至沙特首都利雅得的直飞航班推迟至3月启航。
Delta Air Lines said it will delay the launch of its nonstop service between Atlanta and the Saudi capital Riyadh until March after several deadly attacks hit the city's airport there.
该航班原计划使用空客A350-900宽体机执飞，若按计划执行，将成为美国航空公司首次运营的美沙直航商业航班。
Delta planned to begin the route on Oct. 23, with an Airbus A350-900 wide-body plane, in what would have marked the first nonstop commercial flight between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia operated by a U.S. airline.
根据FlightAware的数据，自周四起，利雅得哈立德国王国际机场进出航班已有超过2000班被取消。这些致命袭击由也门伊朗支持的胡塞武装宣称负责，并在周六升级，当时一枚炮弹击中机场客运航站楼，官员称造成至少12人死亡、300多人受伤。截至周一，哈立德国王国际机场仍处于关闭状态。
Since Thursday, more than 2,000 flights have been canceled to and from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, according to FlightAware. The deadly attacks, claimed by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis, escalated Saturday, when a projectile struck a passenger terminal at the airport, officials said, killing at least 12 people and wounding more than 300. King Khalid International Airport remains closed as of Monday.
达美在一份声明中表示：“我们正与相关政府和航空伙伴保持密切联系，包括沙特阿拉伯航空和利雅得航空，以监控局势发展。沙特阿拉伯仍是达美的重要市场，我们致力于长期服务该王国。”达美首席执行官埃德·巴斯蒂安此前在周四接受CNBC采访时表示，航空公司尚未决定是否推迟航班首航。
"We remain in close contact with relevant government and aviation partners, including Saudia and Riyadh Air, as we monitor the situation," Delta said in a statement. "Saudi Arabia remains an important market for Delta, and we are committed to serving the Kingdom for the long-term." Delta CEO Ed Bastian had told CNBC on Thursday that the airline hadn't yet decided whether to postpone the debut.
他还说：“显然，我们对本周看到的新闻感到失望。安全将是决策的关键因素。”达美的决定是在联邦航空管理局（FAA）周日向美国航空公司发布警告之后作出的。
"Obviously, we were disappointed to see the news this week," he said. "Safety is going to make the call." Delta's decision came after the Federal Aviation Administration on Sunday issued a warning for U.S. airlines.
FAA警告称，由于持续的军事活动和导航系统存在飞行安全风险，飞行员应在沙特阿拉伯境内及周边“谨慎行事”。该警告自发布之日起有效至12月10日，机构指出，这些威胁可能对所有高度的航空器构成潜在风险。多家航空公司已暂停飞往该机场的航班，一些航空公司暂停至本周剩余时间；包括美国和澳大利亚在内的多个国家已建议其公民避免前往该地区旅行。
The FAA said pilots should "exercise caution" in or around Saudi Arabia "due to safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activities" and navigation systems. In the warning, which is in effect until Dec. 10, the agency said the threats could be a potential risk "to aircraft at all altitudes." Airlines suspended flights to the airport, some for the rest of the week, while countries including the U.S. and Australia advised citizens against travel to the region.