Riyadh Airport Operations Reduced by Two-Thirds Amid Ongoing Houthi Strikes
Aviation data shows 4,071 flights were canceled at King Khalid International Airport between October 8 and 25, with nationwide disruptions affecting nearly half of all scheduled departures.
By Mariana Flores ·
Missile and drone attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have reduced air traffic at Riyadh's main airport to a fraction of its normal capacity this month.
Data released on Monday by the aviation analytics firm Cirium indicates that 4,071 of 4,736 scheduled flights at King Khalid International Airport were canceled between October 8 and October 25. That figure represents an 86% cancellation rate for the Saudi capital's busiest air hub, which is the second-busiest in the kingdom after Jeddah.
The Houthi campaign against Saudi infrastructure has intensified in recent weeks, targeting airports, ports, and oil facilities with ballistic missiles and drones. An attack on the airport on October 10 resulted in 13 deaths, marking the deadliest incident in the country in more than ten years. Following that strike, Saudi authorities halted operations at the facility.
The airport partially reopened on Sunday. Domestic services resumed from Terminal 1, while national carriers were authorized to operate international flights from Terminal 2. However, the Houthis announced on Monday that they had struck the airport again, labeling it a military target in the process.
The disruption has prompted major adjustments from international carriers. Several airlines have suspended services to the Saudi capital through November. Delta Air Lines has delayed the start of its Riyadh route until next year due to the instability.
The cancellations have extended beyond aviation, affecting the kingdom's business sector. Riyadh's premier investment conference, along with several other events, has been canceled or postponed as travel difficulties mount. Cirium data reveals that more than 7,800 flights, or 45% of all scheduled departures from Saudi airports, were canceled between October 8 and October 25. Cancellation rates peaked on October 12, when over 60% of nationwide flights were scrapped.
Other airports have also experienced severe disruptions. Dammam recorded a 42% cancellation rate, while Abha, which the Houthis have claimed to have struck, saw 46.7% of flights canceled. At Najran, located near the Yemeni border, all scheduled flights were canceled during the period.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
