Saudi Arabia extended the closure of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Monday following deadly Houthi attacks, leaving passengers facing widespread flight cancellations and uncertainty over when operations will resume.The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced that the suspension would continue while safety inspections and operational assessments were completed. The authority did not confirm October 17 as a reopening date, despite claims circulating that the airport would remain closed until then.
GACA said the extension was necessary to verify the safety of airport facilities and establish their readiness for operations. The inspections are being conducted in coordination with other government agencies following successive missile and projectile attacks on the kingdom’s principal international gateway serving its capital.
The decision followed an attack on Sunday that killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11 others when a projectile struck Terminal 4. Saudi authorities said air defences also intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile near the airport.
Saturday’s assault had already killed 12 people and injured 309, according to figures released by the aviation authority. The dead included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshis and nationals of the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the attacks, which have repeatedly targeted the airport and disrupted civil aviation across Saudi Arabia. The strikes prompted heightened security precautions and warnings to international airlines operating through the kingdom’s airspace.
The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government condemned the attacks as violations of international humanitarian law. It indicated that the strikes would draw a response, while authorities continued assessing damage to passenger terminals and associated infrastructure.
Airline cancellations spread across the region on Monday as international carriers adjusted schedules and suspended services. Aviation analytics company Cirium estimated that approximately 60 per cent of flights scheduled at Riyadh airport could be cancelled during the day.
Cirium data showed that 99.7 per cent of scheduled flights at the airport were cancelled on Sunday, reflecting the near-complete suspension of passenger operations. Across Saudi Arabia, more than one-third of scheduled departures faced cancellation or restrictions on Monday.
Lufthansa Group suspended flights to Riyadh until October 16, while Air France-KLM extended its suspension through the end of October. Etihad Airways also suspended services to Saudi Arabia until October 13, affecting connections through Abu Dhabi.
Other carriers, including Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia, experienced disruptions to services connecting the United Arab Emirates with Riyadh. Airlines serving routes between India and Saudi Arabia also cancelled or adjusted flights as security concerns persisted.
The disruption has placed pressure on travel through Riyadh, with passengers advised to obtain confirmation from their airlines before travelling to airports. The suspension affects departures and arrivals alike, while changes to connecting services have complicated journeys extending beyond Saudi Arabia.
The United States Federal Aviation Administration urged American operators to exercise caution when flying into or over Saudi territory. European aviation authorities also warned of threats to civil aircraft, reflecting concerns about further strikes and the risks associated with missile interception near populated areas.
The United Arab Emirates condemned the attacks through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, describing them as a violation of Saudi sovereignty and a threat to its security. The ministry expressed solidarity with the kingdom and support for measures intended to protect its territory and civilian infrastructure.
The incidents also disrupted arrangements for a international petroleum conference taking place in Riyadh. Several executives from global energy companies withdrew from participation amid the security concerns, although Saudi officials indicated that the event would proceed despite the attacks and aviation restrictions.
Riyadh's airport is the kingdom's second-busiest after Jeddah, serving domestic routes and international connections across the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Its suspension has affected both point-to-point travel and onward itineraries, with carriers making separate decisions about how long to keep services grounded.
The airport authority has not announced a timetable for completing inspections or specified which facilities require work. Authorities said those injured in Sunday's attack were taken to hospitals, while damage assessments continued alongside checks intended to establish whether airport operations could resume safely.
Security concerns were not confined to Riyadh. The Houthis claimed attacks on aviation facilities elsewhere in Saudi Arabia, including Dammam, heightening scrutiny of flight schedules and airspace restrictions. The scope and consequences of claims remained subject to confirmation by Saudi authorities.
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