More than 3,100 flights across Saudi Arabia were cancelled or marked as not operating between October 8 and 14 following a series of Houthi attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, 313 of the 1,097 departures scheduled for October 14 had been cancelled or listed as not operating. The disruption peaked on October 12, when 632 of 1,048 scheduled departures were affected, accounting for about 60 percent of the total.
Major Saudi airlines have also faced widespread cancellations. Between October 8 and 13, Saudia cancelled 1,091 of its 2,273 scheduled flights, while Flynas cancelled 564 of 1,183 and Flyadeal cancelled 496 of 975. Riyadh recorded the most severe disruption, with 88 percent of flights affected during the reported period. Cancellations and suspensions were also reported at airports in Dammam, Jeddah, Medina, Abha, Tabuk and Taif, affecting domestic and international travel.
Saudi authorities have extended the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport until October 17 to complete safety inspections and verify the readiness of airport facilities. The attacks have caused significant casualties, with Saudi authorities reporting 13 deaths and more than 300 injuries in the October 10 strike, followed by another attack the next day that killed one person and injured 11. Airlines have adjusted their schedules in response, and passengers have been advised to confirm flight status directly with their carriers before travelling.
