- Saudi Arabia extended the King Khalid International Airport shutdown after repeated Houthi attacks.
- Cirium reported that 82% of Riyadh departures were canceled, with cancellations reaching 46.4% across Saudi airports.
- Airlines set different suspension and resumption dates as authorities continued safety and damage inspections.
Saudi Arabia extended its suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport on October 12, 2026, after repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks. The shutdown has driven cancellations across the kingdom and prompted airlines to set separate dates for restoring service.
Cirium data showed 82% of Riyadh departures had been canceled. Cancellations across Saudi airports reached 46.4%.
Saudi authorities said a Saturday attack killed at least 12 people and wounded 309 at the airport. A further strike hit the facility on Sunday and caused injuries.
Earlier Thursday attacks killed three Saudi nationals and injured people of several nationalities. One strike targeted airport facilities, while another hit a Saudia aircraft. A separate attack reportedly struck King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on October 11.
Riyadh’s shutdown has spread across airline schedules
Flight-tracking data recorded 324 canceled flights at the Riyadh airport on Saturday. Saudia accounted for 182 cancellations.
Airlines have announced different timetables for suspending or resuming Riyadh service. Several also canceled flights to other Saudi cities.
| Airline | Riyadh or other Saudi service changes |
|---|---|
| Lufthansa Group | Riyadh flights suspended through October 16 |
| Gulf Air | Riyadh flights canceled through midnight on October 17 |
| KLM | Riyadh service not expected to resume until October 25 |
| flydubai | Riyadh flights canceled through October 14; Yanbu through October 10 and Abha through October 11 |
| Etihad | Selected Abu Dhabi–Riyadh flights canceled; cancellations affecting Dammam and Jeddah extended through October 13 |
| Delta Air Lines | Planned Atlanta–Riyadh launch, scheduled for October 23, postponed |
The announcements cover different routes and time periods. Delta’s postponement affects a planned direct service, while the other listed carriers detailed cancellations or suspensions.
Saudi authorities said the airport would remain closed while teams completed damage assessments, safety inspections and operational-readiness procedures. The shutdown’s end therefore depends on those checks.
Riyadh threatens a response as the Houthis warn airlines away
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the kingdom’s energy minister, warned that Saudi Arabia would answer the attacks forcefully.
“The events of recent weeks are serious, our response must be equally serious.”
Major General Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure would draw a firm response. The coalition said it destroyed three missile launchers used by the Houthis.
Saudi authorities called the airport attack a “fully-fledged war crime” and vowed a decisive response. The attacks have also raised concerns about a wider regional escalation, after U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington was considering joining Saudi strikes against the Houthis.
Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree framed the attacks as retaliation for what he called “brutal Saudi aggression against our country and our people.” He claimed Saudi Arabia had carried out 124 airstrikes in Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen during the preceding 24 hours.
The Houthis warned airlines, airport workers, travelers and other personnel against using Saudi airports or airspace. Their warning described the facilities as unsafe, with an exception for airports and airspace serving Mecca and Medina. The group said its attacks involved ballistic or cruise missiles aimed at the Riyadh airport.
Aviation warnings cite missiles, interception activity and debris
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency widened its warning for Saudi airspace, saying the attacks showed the Houthis could reach targets deep inside the country, including Riyadh. It cited risks from missile and drone overflights, interception activity and falling debris.
The agency also warned that civilian aircraft could be misidentified. That risk accompanies the possibility of missiles or drones crossing flight paths.
OPSGROUP, an aviation-risk organization, issued a “do not fly” warning. It recommended avoiding Saudi operations altogether, including using Saudi airports as en-route alternates.
The U.S. Mission in Saudi Arabia warned American citizens to expect possible cancellations, airspace closures and broader travel disruption. Saudi officials said airport operations would stay suspended until assessment and readiness work was complete.
