Riyadh Airport Shut Down After Four Strikes
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh suspended operations on 12 October after being struck four times in under a week, according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia. The authority extended the suspension with no firm reopening date.
Yemen's Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for the strikes. The group issued warnings against travel to the country, marking what is considered the deadliest series of attacks in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.
The closure has grounded all flights into and out of Riyadh, with inbound aircraft diverted to other airports in the region. The disruption has left thousands of passengers stranded or rerouted, though exact numbers have not been disclosed.
Regulators Issue Warnings
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency published an advisory on 9 October recommending operators avoid Saudi Arabian airspace. "These recurrent missile and drone attacks, together with the activation of air-defence systems, create an increased risk of misidentification of civil aircraft, as well as risks associated with missile and drone overflights, interception activity and falling debris," EASA stated.
OPSGROUP, an international network of flight operations professionals, issued a stronger recommendation the same day, advising members to avoid Saudi Arabia entirely, including using the country's airports as diversion alternates. The group's warning reflects concern that even aircraft not landing in the kingdom could face risks from debris or misfired defence systems.
Governments including those of the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Germany and Canada have updated travel advisories, urging citizens to reconsider or postpone trips to Saudi Arabia. The warnings cite both the direct threat of attacks and the broader instability in the region.
European Carriers Pull Out Through Late October
Lufthansa Group was among the first to act, suspending all Riyadh flights from 8 to 16 October. Air France has cancelled routes to and from the Saudi capital through 24 October, and KLM has done the same. British Airways has halted all Riyadh operations through 3 November.
The suspensions affect not only direct flights but also connecting itineraries, forcing passengers to rebook or accept refunds. Most carriers are offering full refunds or free rebooking, though processing times vary.
Several European airlines have not announced firm resumption dates, instead stating they will reassess as the situation develops. That cautious stance reflects uncertainty about whether the airport will reopen quickly or whether further attacks might follow.
Asian Airlines Set Longer Suspensions
IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air all suspended flights once news of the initial strikes emerged. IndiGo has said it plans to resume once the airport reopens, but has not committed to a date. Air India has suspended service through 14 October, and Akasa Air through 13 October.
Akasa Air extended its suspension to include Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's second-largest city, citing "escalating security situation in the Middle East and the associated risks to safe flight operations," according to the carrier's statement. Passengers holding tickets on suspended flights can claim full refunds within seven days or reschedule at no cost.
Cathay Pacific has taken a more cautious approach, cancelling all passenger flights to Riyadh through 31 January 2027. Singapore Airlines has suspended non-stop service through 28 March 2027. Both carriers serve business and pilgrimage traffic to the kingdom, and the extended suspensions suggest they see the risk as protracted rather than temporary.
What It Means for Travellers
The suspensions have immediate consequences for anyone planning to visit Saudi Arabia, whether for business, religious pilgrimage or tourism. Riyadh is a major hub for corporate travel, and the closure disrupts meetings, conferences and project timelines.
Pilgrimage traffic is also affected. Though the annual Hajj concluded in June, Umrah pilgrims travel year-round, and many bookings for the coming months are now in limbo. Carriers serving predominantly Muslim-majority countries have been fielding a surge in rebooking requests.
Even after the airport reopens, demand may remain weak. Travellers often avoid destinations under active travel warnings, and insurers may exclude coverage for trips to areas flagged by governments. That could depress bookings for weeks or months, even if the immediate threat subsides.
Airlines face a different calculus. Resuming flights too soon risks crew and passenger safety, as well as reputational damage. Waiting too long means lost revenue and the possibility that competitors claim market share once routes restart. Most are taking a wait-and-see approach, monitoring both the security situation and guidance from regulators.
Wider Regional Implications
The strikes on Riyadh come amid broader volatility in the Middle East. The Houthi movement has previously targeted sites in Saudi Arabia, though the frequency and scale of recent attacks mark an escalation. The group's use of drones and missiles has raised concerns about the vulnerability of civilian infrastructure, including airports.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in tourism and business travel as part of efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil. The kingdom has opened new visa categories, promoted heritage sites and positioned itself as a hub for conferences and events. Prolonged disruption to air connectivity undermines those ambitions and may deter investors and visitors alike.
Other airports in the region remain open, but airlines are reviewing their exposure. Some carriers have reduced frequencies to secondary Saudi cities, while others are adding capacity to nearby hubs such as Dubai or Doha to accommodate displaced passengers.
United States airlines have been advised to exercise caution when flying over Saudi Arabia, according to guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration. The advisory stops short of a ban but signals that even overflights carry elevated risk. That could lead to longer routings for some transatlantic and Asia-bound flights, adding time and fuel costs.
The coming days will clarify whether the airport closure is a brief interruption or the start of a longer downturn. For now, travellers with plans involving Saudi Arabia should expect disruption, and those booking ahead may want to wait for clearer signals from both airlines and regulators.
