Riyadh airport scraps most flights after fresh Houthi strike

Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a new missile and drone attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on Monday, just one day after Saudi authorities partially resumed operations. The strike, which the Houthis described as targeting a "military target," has left the kingdom's second-busiest airport largely grounded.

The disruption began in earnest on October 10, when a Houthi attack killed 13 people at the airport. That event marked the deadliest incident in Saudi Arabia in over a decade. Following the attack, airport operations halted. It took six days for authorities to reopen Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international services by national carriers on Sunday.

Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that 4,071 of 4,736 scheduled flights were canceled between October 8 and October 25. That figure represents an 86% cancellation rate at King Khalid International Airport. The data reveals a sharp decline in capacity during the two-week period following the initial strike.

The impact of the Houthi campaign extends beyond the capital. Cirium data indicates that more than 7,800 flights were canceled across all Saudi airports in the same timeframe. This accounts for 45% of all scheduled departures nationwide. Cancellations peaked on October 12, when more than 60% of flights across the country were scrapped.

Other major hubs have also faced severe reductions in service. Dammam recorded a 42% cancellation rate, while Abha, which the Houthis have claimed as a strike target, saw 46.7% of its flights canceled. The disruption is most acute at Najran, an airport near the Yemeni border, where Cirium data shows every scheduled flight was canceled during the period.

International carriers have reacted by suspending services to Riyadh until at least November. Delta Air Lines has postponed the launch of its new Riyadh route until next year. The flight disruptions have also affected major events in the capital, including Saudi Arabia's primary investment conference, which has been canceled or postponed due to travel difficulties.

The Houthis have intensified their use of ballistic missiles and drones against Saudi infrastructure in recent weeks. Their targets include airports, ports, and oil facilities. The latest Monday strike occurred immediately after the airport's partial reopening, continuing a pattern of attacks that has significantly reduced the kingdom's aviation capacity.