Saudi Arabia flight cancellations exceed 7,800 amid continued attacks

More than 7,800 flights have been cancelled across Saudi Arabia this month as repeated missile and drone attacks disrupt airport operations, according to aviation data published on Monday 26 October.

Figures from aviation analytics firm Cirium show that approximately 45% of scheduled departures from Saudi airports were cancelled between 8 and 25 October, with disruption particularly severe in Riyadh.

At King Khalid International Airport, 4,071 of 4,736 scheduled flights were cancelled during the period, equivalent to 86% of services.

The cancellations follow intensified attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement against Saudi airports and other infrastructure. Riyadh’s airport has been targeted repeatedly, including an attack on 10 October that killed 13 people.

Saudi authorities partially reopened the airport on Sunday 25 October, restoring domestic operations from Terminal 1 and permitting national carriers to resume international services from Terminal 2.

However, the Houthis claimed another attack on the airport on Monday (26 October), while several international airlines have extended suspensions of services to Riyadh into November.

Delta Air Lines has postponed the launch of its planned Riyadh route until next year.

Disruption extends beyond Riyadh

Cirium data indicates that cancellations reached more than 60% of scheduled departures nationwide on 12 October.

Other affected airports include Abha, where 46.7% of flights were cancelled, and Dammam, where cancellations reached 42%. Najran, near the Yemeni border, recorded the cancellation of all scheduled flights during the reporting period.

The disruption has also forced the postponement or cancellation of major events in Riyadh, including the kingdom’s flagship investment conference.

With international airline suspensions extending into November, the disruption could continue to affect travellers even as some domestic and national-carrier services resume.

Related reading: As flight disruption continues across Saudi Arabia, charter costs and aviation insurance premiums in the country have also risen.