More than 275 flights were canceled on Thursday at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after explosions and a ballistic missile attack disrupted airport operations, according to ABC News.
The cancellations accounted for 40% of scheduled arrivals and 30% of scheduled departures on October 9. The Riyadh airport closed for over 80 minutes with no aircraft landings and over 90 minutes with no takeoffs reported during Thursday afternoon.
Riyadh Airport Attack Details
Iran-backed Houthi rebels based in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack on King Khalid International Airport, stating that a ballistic missile caused damage and disrupted flights. The Houthis also reported
firing additional ballistic and cruise missiles at airports in Riyadh and Najran cities, which further hindered flight operations. Saudi authorities had not immediately commented on the claims.
Airline Suspensions and Flight Cancellations
The Lufthansa Group, which owns Lufthansa Airlines and other European carriers, announced the suspension of all flights to Riyadh through October 16, citing “current developments in the Middle East.”
Indian airlines also halted operations to Riyadh. Air India canceled a flight from Delhi that had returned to its origin and suspended all Riyadh services until Saturday. Budget carrier Akasa Air suspended flights to and from Riyadh through Saturday, while low-cost carrier IndiGo canceled
its Riyadh routes through Friday. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed these suspensions in announcements on social media.
Traveler Impact and Official Statements
The temporary suspension of these flights affects air travel connectivity to Riyadh from Europe and India amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East region. Air India emphasized that cancellations were made “in the interest of safety” and stated, “We are closely monitoring the situation.”
The large scale of cancellations and airport closure during the missile attack marks a significant disruption in air traffic operations at Riyadh’s main international airport.
