Riyadh Airport Hit by Houthi Attacks: Hundreds of Flights Canceled, Global Air Travel Disrupted

Riyadh Airport Hit by Houthi Attacks: Hundreds of Flights Canceled, Global Air Travel Disrupted

By TheNATIONWEEK.com News Desk | October 9, 2026

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh has descended into chaos, with hundreds of flights canceled and operations severely disrupted following a series of ballistic missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The escalating conflict has not only claimed lives and caused numerous injuries but is now directly impacting international aviation, forcing airlines worldwide to reevaluate routes and suspend services to the Saudi capital.

As of 4:25 PM local time, aviation analytics firm Cirium reported a staggering 169 out of 378 scheduled departures from Riyadh – nearly 45% – were canceled or non-operational. Inbound flights were equally affected, with 124 of 369 scheduled arrivals, or 33.6%, also grounded.

The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, brazenly confirmed the targeting of King Khalid Airport, stating, “Our armed forces targeted King Khalid Airport in Riyadh at midday with a ballistic missile that hit its target.” This latest assault follows earlier strikes on two Saudi airports in recent days, a dangerous escalation that has already resulted in three fatalities and numerous injuries.

Saudia Faces Major Disruptions

Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Saudia, is experiencing the most severe impact, with a shocking 69.3% of its Riyadh departures (97 out of 140 flights) canceled or not operating. Inbound Saudia services saw a similar disruption, with 64% (87 of 136) grounded. Other domestic carriers like Flynas and Flyadeal reported 33% and 37% of their scheduled departures affected, respectively. Even the nascent Riyadh Air saw 13.3% of its departures impacted.

International Carriers Divert and Cancel

The ripple effect extends far beyond Saudi borders. International airlines are making drastic decisions:

• Singapore Airlines has postponed the launch of its services to Riyadh until March 28, citing the volatile situation in the Middle East.
• Philippine Airlines has canceled all flights to the capital until at least October 11.
• Turkish Airlines saw all four of its scheduled departures from Riyadh canceled.
• EgyptAir, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Air India Express, Air India, SriLankan Airlines, Yemenia, and AJet all reported significant cancellations or affected services.

Several American and European carriers, already wary of the region, have continued to avoid Middle Eastern airspace since Iran initiated targeting of Gulf nations earlier this year. This long-standing caution is now being reinforced by the direct threats to Saudi Arabian airports.

A Region Under Siege: Aviation Routes Rerouted

The recent attacks on Riyadh and Abha airports underscore the increasing dangers in a region already grappling with the fallout of a three-year conflict between Israel and neighboring nations. For months, Saudi Arabia’s airspace has served as a critical diversion corridor for flights seeking to avoid the riskier skies over Iran, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria. The targeting of key Saudi aviation hubs now jeopardizes even these alternative routes, signaling a broader and more dangerous threat to regional and international air travel.

As the conflict intensifies and the safety of air operations becomes increasingly compromised, the global aviation industry faces a deepening crisis in one of the world’s most critical geopolitical hotspots. The coming days will reveal the full extent of the fallout and the long-term implications for air travel in the Middle East and beyond.

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