Cirium counted 7,800 Flights Cancelled or recorded as no-fly across Saudi Arabia from October 8 through October 25. The 7,802 affected departures represented 45.1 per cent of 17,299 scheduled flights. The count combines cancellations with flights recorded as no-fly.
Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport accounted for 4,071 of 4,736 scheduled flights affected, or 85.96 per cent. The Saudi Flight Disruption data show the capital’s airport was far more heavily affected than other major gateways.
Authorities partially reopened the airport on October 25. Domestic flights resumed at Terminal 1, while national carriers were permitted to operate international services from Terminal 2. Normal operations have not returned.
The disruption followed repeated attacks. An October 10 strike killed 13 people, the kingdom’s deadliest attack in more than a decade. The Houthis later said they had attacked the airport again on Monday, describing it as a “military target.”
Passengers may still qualify for care, rerouting or a refund
Compensation is generally unlikely when attacks outside an airline’s control cause cancellations. Passengers covered by applicable passenger-rights rules may still qualify for care, rerouting or a refund.
The available options depend on the rules that cover the journey. Passengers whose service is suspended should confirm any refund or rebooking arrangements with their airline.
Verify the flight and follow the security notices
Airport authorities urged people with confirmed bookings to check directly with their airlines before travelling. A schedule listing does not confirm that a flight will operate.
- Check the flight’s current status and schedule with the airline before heading to the airport.
- Saudi citizens affected by delays or cancellations were advised by the Saudi Foreign Ministry to contact Saudi diplomatic missions in their country of residence for assistance.
- The U.S. Mission urged U.S. citizens to avoid the airport and surrounding areas. It said U.S. government employees need special authorization to use the airport, cannot travel within 20 miles of the Yemen border, and need special authorization for Jizan, Asir, Najran, Qatif, Yanbu and Taif.
The U.S. Mission said it “strongly recommends all U.S. citizens avoid this airport and surrounding areas.” Its separate employee restrictions cover travel and airport access by U.S. government personnel.
Riyadh and Taif had the highest airport disruption rates
Cirium’s October 8-25 figures show sharply different effects around the kingdom. Riyadh is the country’s second-busiest airport, after Jeddah.
| Airport | Affected departures | Share of scheduled flights |
|---|---|---|
| Riyadh | 4,071 of 4,736 | 85.96 per cent |
| Taif | 109 of 190 | 57.37 per cent |
| Abha | 297 of 636 | 46.7 per cent |
| Dammam, King Fahd International | 823 of 1,956 | 42.08 per cent |
| Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International | 1,402 of 6,380 | 21.97 per cent |
| Medina | 286 of 1,592 | 17.96 per cent |
| Najran | All flights cancelled | Not stated |
Najran is near the Yemeni border. The nationwide daily disruption rate peaked on October 12, when 631 of 1,048 departures were affected, or 60.21 per cent.
The rate was 32.24 per cent on October 8, then reached 56.57 per cent on October 11 and 59.51 per cent on October 15. It stayed above 50 per cent each day from October 18 through October 21. After falling to 16.51 per cent on October 24, it rose to 44.23 per cent on October 25.
The October 25 reopening left permission rules in force
A Notice to Air Missions, or NOTAM, issued after the attacks requires operators to secure prior permission from the General Authority of Civil Aviation for arrivals and departures. A second notice, A3651/26, bars airlines from planning to use Riyadh as a diversion airport. Both rules took effect on October 17 and have no stated expiry date.
The airport’s website listed domestic and international flights on October 25, including arrivals from Dubai, Paris and Cairo. Flightradar24 showed a small number of departures, while most flights remained cancelled. Its October 20 update listed Saudia and flynas as the only commercial airlines operating arrivals and departures; it also said only private and cargo flights had operated since reopening under the permission rules.
International airlines have set separate suspension dates. Delta Air Lines delayed its Atlanta-Riyadh service, originally scheduled for 23 October, until March 2027. Lufthansa suspended Riyadh service through 18 November, while KLM cancelled Riyadh and Dammam flights through 31 October.
Philippine Airlines suspended Riyadh service until 29 November. Cathay Pacific postponed its planned return to the end of January 2027. Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways extended cancellations affecting Riyadh and Dammam through October 24.
Air India and Air India Express suspended Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam flights through October 24. IndiGo’s suspension also covered Madinah, while Akasa Air paused Riyadh flights through October 24 and Jeddah flights through October 21. Kuwait Airways cancelled service KU775 from Kuwait to Riyadh and the return KU776, citing the airport closure.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency extended its warning against flights over parts of the Gulf until at least November 16. It applies to airspace and waters around the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, and covers EU airlines and non-EU carriers authorized to fly to, from or within the European Union.
“The possible use of missiles, drones, combat aircraft and air-defence systems creates a high risk to civil flights at all altitudes and flight levels within the concerned airspace,” EASA said.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration separately urged caution over Saudi Arabia. EASA also advised operators to avoid designated Saudi airspace and exercise caution elsewhere because of missile and drone activity, air-defence operations and the risk of aircraft being misidentified.
The disruption has spread to events and Bangladesh-linked travel
Several Riyadh events were cancelled or postponed, including Saudi Arabia’s marquee investment conference. On October 11, Terminal 4 was hit, and Dammam airport was also targeted. Explosions were heard across Riyadh early on Sunday after alerts warned of a possible aerial threat; the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile and two drones aimed at the capital, followed by a cruise missile targeting Khamis Mushait.
Operational restrictions affected 134 direct and transit flights from Bangladesh, involving 20,254 passengers, up from 107 grounded flights previously. Squadron Leader Sakib of the Security and Flight Management Wing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport said 61 affected flights were direct and 73 were transit.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines had 22 direct flights affected, Saudia 19, US-Bangla Airlines 10 and Riyadh Air 10. Among transit services, IndiGo had 28 affected flights, Emirates 14, Qatar Airways nine, Flydubai eight, SalamAir seven, Air India six and EgyptAir one. Bangladesh’s expatriates’ welfare ministry said about 500 Bangladeshi passengers were stranded in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia hosts over 2.5 million Bangladeshi workers and is Bangladesh’s largest labor market. Some stranded workers faced expiring Iqama work visas and return tickets; missed re-entry deadlines risk job loss, wage cuts or deportation. No date has been confirmed for a full return to unrestricted international passenger services.
