Saudi Arabia Extends Riyadh Airport Closure After Deadly Houthi Attacks Disrupt Air Travel

RIYADH (Terror Monitor) — Saudi authorities have extended the closure of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport following deadly attacks attributed to Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen over the weekend, prolonging major disruptions to air travel and raising concerns about the wider economic impact on the kingdom.

The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority said on Monday that flight operations at King Khalid International Airport, the kingdom’s second-busiest airport after Jeddah, would remain suspended while authorities complete measures to ensure the safety of airport facilities and operational readiness.

The authority said the additional precautions were necessary to protect airport infrastructure and prepare for the safe resumption of operations. It did not specify when flights would restart.

The airport has remained closed since an attack on Saturday that reportedly killed 13 people and injured more than 300, making it one of the deadliest attacks in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade. A second attack on Sunday killed one person and injured approximately a dozen others, according to the information provided in the report.

The incidents have triggered one of the most severe disruptions to Saudi air travel in recent years, affecting international airlines and passengers as conflict across the Middle East continues to put pressure on the regional aviation industry.

According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, 99.7 percent of scheduled flights at Riyadh airport were cancelled on Sunday. Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 also showed no aircraft operating over the Saudi capital at the time reported.

The airport shutdown has caused widespread disruption across Saudi Arabia’s aviation network, with international carriers cancelling or suspending services to the kingdom. The disruption has affected airlines connecting Europe and Asia, forcing carriers to revise schedules, cancel services and make alternative arrangements for passengers.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advised American airlines on Sunday to exercise caution when operating flights to Saudi Arabia or through its airspace, reflecting growing concerns about aviation safety amid the escalating regional conflict.

Several major international airlines have extended their suspensions of flights to Riyadh as uncertainty over the security situation continues. The Lufthansa Group has cancelled all its flights to Riyadh through October 16, while Air France-KLM has extended the suspension of services to and from the Saudi capital until the end of October.

Other airlines, including Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, have also extended flight cancellations affecting Saudi Arabia. The measures have affected approximately 20 flights scheduled to operate to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam on Monday and Tuesday, adding to the difficulties faced by travellers and airlines across the region.

The duration of the disruption will depend on security assessments and the Saudi authorities’ decision on when airport operations can safely resume.

The attacks and resulting aviation shutdown have also raised concerns about the potential economic consequences for Saudi Arabia, which has invested heavily in tourism, international business and efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil.

The disruption comes as the kingdom faces broader economic pressures, including reduced oil-sector activity. The supplied report estimates that Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) could contract by 3.6 percent this year, although the basis and source of that forecast were not specified.

Prolonged flight suspensions could affect tourism, business travel, cargo movements and international investment, particularly if airlines remain reluctant to resume normal services while security risks persist.

The attacks have also put pressure on major events scheduled to take place in Riyadh this month, including the kingdom’s flagship investment conference and the World Petroleum Congress (WPC) Energy Congress.

Both events are important platforms for attracting international investors, business leaders and energy-sector executives. Continued aviation disruption could complicate travel arrangements for delegates and participants arriving from abroad.

Saudi authorities have not announced a definitive date for the airport’s reopening. The extension of the closure underscores the challenges facing the kingdom as it seeks to protect critical infrastructure and maintain international connectivity amid escalating tensions with the Iran-backed Houthis.

The situation remains fluid, with airlines, aviation regulators and travellers awaiting further announcements on security measures and the resumption of flights.