Houthi Attacks Cancel Nearly 90% of Flights at Riyadh's Main Hub

Passengers traveling through Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport face a near total suspension of service. Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that 4,071 of 4,736 scheduled flights were canceled between October 8 and October 25. This accounts for approximately 86% of all departures from the hub during that period.

The disruption stems from a sustained campaign by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis. The group has employed ballistic missiles and drones to strike airports, ports, and oil facilities within Saudi Arabia. The capital's main airport has been a repeated target. An attack on October 10 resulted in 13 deaths, marking the deadliest incident in the kingdom in over ten years.

Saudi authorities partially reopened the airport on Sunday following the initial halt. Domestic flights resumed operations from Terminal 1, while national carriers were authorized to run international services from Terminal 2. However, the Houthis announced on Monday that they had attacked the airport again, labeling it a military target.

International carriers have reacted by suspending services to the Saudi capital through November. Delta Air Lines has also delayed the launch of its Riyadh route until next year. The flight disruptions have extended beyond the aviation sector. Several events in Riyadh, including the country's major investment conference, have been canceled or postponed due to travel difficulties.

The impact has spread across the Saudi air network. Cirium data indicates that more than 7,800 flights were canceled nationwide between October 8 and October 25. This represents 45% of all scheduled departures from Saudi airports. Cancellations peaked on October 12, when more than 60% of scheduled flights were scrapped.

Other major hubs have also experienced severe service reductions. Dammam recorded a 42% cancellation rate, while Abha saw 46.7% of flights canceled. At Najran, an airport near the Yemeni border, every scheduled flight was canceled. Smaller regional airports also lost the majority of their services during the two week period.

The data reflects the strain on Saudi infrastructure as the conflict intensifies. The combination of missile strikes and precautionary halts has left the skies over Riyadh largely empty. Airlines and travelers continue to adjust to the shifting operational status of the kingdom's airports.