Houthi strikes force cancellation of most flights at Riyadh airport
Houthi attacks have led to the cancellation of roughly 86% of scheduled flights at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport between Oct 8 and Oct 25.
Data from Cirium show that 86% of scheduled flights - 4,071 out of 4,736 - were cancelled at King Khalid International Airport between Oct 8 and Oct 25 as Houthi missile and drone attacks intensified. The airport reopened partially on Sunday, with domestic flights operating from Terminal 1 and selected international routes from Terminal 2. The Houthis claimed another strike on the airport on Monday, labeling it a "military target."
Across Saudi Arabia, 7,800 flights - 45% of all scheduled departures - were cancelled, with the highest daily disruption exceeding 60% on Oct 12. Major airports such as Dammam (42% cancellations) and Abha (46.7%) were also hit, while all flights from Najran were halted. The fallout has led airlines to suspend service into November and forced the postponement of the country's marquee investment conference.
Why it matters
The attacks cripple Saudi air travel, affecting global airlines, business travel and major economic events.
How this story developed
- Oct 11 Projectile strikes Riyadh airport amid Houthi attacks ahead of major energy conferences
- Oct 12 The Omani embassy thanked Saudi authorities for the medical care provided to an injured Omani doctor.
- Oct 12 Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey demanded an immediate and unconditional halt to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
- Oct 12 Saudi officials announced the continued closure of King Khalid International Airport pending safety inspections.
- Oct 13 IndiGo and Akasa Air have prolonged the cancellation of flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until October 17 because of heightened security threats in the region.
- Oct 15 Air India joins IndiGo and Akasa Air in suspending Saudi flights.
- Oct 18 Airlines have extended their flight suspensions to October 17.
- Oct 19 The U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia warned Americans of ongoing missile and drone attacks on major airports and imposed travel restrictions on U.S. government staff.
- Oct 21 US removed non‑essential embassy personnel from Saudi Arabia.
- Oct 22 Relatives of diplomatic staff in other Gulf countries may also be asked to leave.
- Oct 25 Indian airlines announced further extensions of their Saudi flight bans.
- Oct 26 The airport has partially reopened and Saudi forces intercepted a ballistic missile targeting it.
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