Saudi airlines pause operations after fresh Houthi strike

Aviation analytics firm Cirium reports that 86% of scheduled flights at King Khalid International Airport were canceled between October 8 and October 25. The data covers 4,071 of the 4,736 departures planned for the period. This sharp drop in air traffic follows a series of attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, which have targeted Saudi infrastructure in recent weeks.

The Houthis have used ballistic missiles and drones to strike airports, ports, and oil facilities. A specific attack on Riyadh's airport on October 10 killed 13 people. That incident marked the deadliest attack in the kingdom in more than a decade. Saudi authorities halted operations at the airport starting that day. They partially reopened the facility on Sunday, allowing domestic flights to resume from Terminal 1 and international services from Terminal 2.

The partial reopening was short-lived. On Monday, the Houthis announced a new attack on the airport, which they described as a military target. International carriers have responded by suspending services to the Saudi capital through November. Delta Air Lines has also postponed the launch of its Riyadh route, pushing the start date back to next year.

The disruption extends beyond the capital. Cirium data indicates that more than 7,800 flights were canceled across Saudi Arabia during the same two-week window. This represents 45% of all scheduled departures from national airports. Cancellation rates peaked on October 12, when over 60% of flights nationwide were scrapped. The high volume of cancellations complicates travel plans for businesses and individuals across the region.

Economic events in Riyadh have been affected by the flight disruptions. Several gatherings have been canceled or postponed, including the country's major investment conference. Organizers cited the difficulty of traveling to and within the kingdom as a primary factor. The instability has also impacted other major hubs. Dammam recorded a 42% cancellation rate, while Abha saw 46.7% of flights canceled.

Smaller regional airports have faced more severe cuts. At Najran, located near the Yemeni border, every scheduled flight was canceled during the period. The widespread nature of the cancellations reflects the continued pressure from Houthi strikes. The campaign has targeted multiple sectors of the Saudi economy, with aviation bearing the heaviest immediate load.