Middle East airport attacks force multiple airlines to suspend Riyadh flights

Houthi militants struck two airports in Saudi Arabia, resulting in three fatalities and dozens of injuries, and causing extensive flight disruptions. Airlines such as EgyptAir, Indigo, Air India and Philippine Airlines halted their Riyadh schedules, with Philippine Airlines suspending service at least until Oct. 11. Singapore Airlines postponed the launch of its Riyadh route to March 28 and has cancelled its Dubai flights through Dec. 1; its low-cost arm Scoot also cancelled Jeddah flights until Dec. 2.

Data from Cirium show roughly 300 arrivals or departures at King Khalid International Airport were cancelled on Oct. 8, primarily impacting the national carrier Saudia and budget airline Flynas. Operations at the Riyadh airport have been repeatedly shut down and restarted amid ongoing missile threats, and Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia was also hit. The attacks come as the Iran-backed group faces a Saudi-led ground offensive in Yemen near the Bab el-Mandeb strait.