Operations Suspended Through Weekend
King Khalid International in Riyadh will remain closed until 17 October, according to the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation. The airport suspended operations following a 10 October strike that killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300 others.
GACA said the closure is intended to "allow for the completion of procedures to ensure the safety and operational readiness of the airport's facilities". The incident marks the deadliest attack on the kingdom in more than a decade.
The airport is Saudi Arabia's second-busiest after Jeddah. Data from Flightradar24 shows at least 572 flights from the airport were cancelled on Tuesday alone.
Carriers Pull Services
Lufthansa Group has suspended flights to Riyadh through Friday, 16 October. Emirates, Air Arabia, Etihad Airways, flydubai and Qatar Airways have all temporarily cancelled services to the Saudi capital.
Air France KLM has extended its suspension until the end of October, the longest pause announced by any major carrier so far.
The disruption affects not just travellers to Saudi Arabia but also those connecting through Riyadh to destinations across Asia and Africa. For airlines, the closure eliminates a key node in Middle East networks, forcing re-routes that add hours and fuel costs.
Travel Advice Tightened
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office now advises against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia's airports, with the exception of Medina. The FCDO is encouraging British nationals to leave the country by land if they judge it safe to travel.
The FCDO notes that missile and drone strikes have targeted several areas of Saudi Arabia since 13 July 2026. The attacks have expanded beyond border regions to reach deeper into the kingdom, including Riyadh, Tabuk, Medina and Yanbu.
Europe's aviation safety body, EASA, has issued an active notice warning airlines that "the regional security situation remains highly volatile, with significant kinetic military activity affecting Saudi airspace". EASA added that recent attacks have demonstrated both the ability and intent to strike targets deeper inside Saudi territory.
What It Means for Travel Plans
Passengers booked on flights to Riyadh should expect cancellations or diversions through at least the weekend. Most airlines are offering rebooking or refunds, though options may be limited given the scale of the disruption.
For those already in Saudi Arabia, overland routes to neighbouring states remain open, though travellers should monitor local conditions closely. Jeddah airport continues to operate, but capacity constraints mean securing alternative flights may take days.
The closure also disrupts religious travel. Saudi Arabia hosts millions of pilgrims annually for Hajj and Umrah, and Riyadh serves as a gateway for many arriving from Asia and Europe. With Medina airport still operating, some pilgrimage traffic can continue, but the overall flow is sharply reduced.
The kingdom has threatened a severe response to the attacks, raising the prospect of further escalation. That uncertainty makes planning difficult, even for trips weeks out. Airlines and passengers alike are watching to see whether the 17 October reopening holds, or whether the closure extends further into the autumn.
