JEDDAH — Saudi Arabian Airlines has altered the path of its international flights away from the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, an Al-Arabiya correspondent reported on Sunday.

The US aviation regulator barred its carriers from the area until further notice after Iran shot down a high-altitude, unmanned US drone, sparking concerns about a threat to the safety of commercial airlines.

Major airlines around the world have already said they would suspend their flights over Iranian airspace.

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways has suspended operations through Iranian airspace over the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, a spokeswoman said on Saturday.

The airline will use alternative flight paths on a number of routes to and from its home base of Abu Dhabi until further notice, it said. — SG