Is Riyadh's airport open? Not for at least another week. Saudi Arabia has extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport until 21:00 UTC on October 17, which is just after midnight local time, after a week of Houthi attacks that has now spread to a second airport in the kingdom.
The closure affects nearly 700 flights a day, according to Flightradar24. Below is a rundown of what's happened, which airports are working and what to do if you're booked to fly.
Saudi Airport Status · Oct 12
Where Saudi Arabia's Airports Stand
Contrail
How We Got Here
Yemen's Houthi movement has declared Saudi airspace a military zone and warned that planes flying over the kingdom are targets. Over the past week, it has repeatedly struck King Khalid International, Riyadh's main airport.
The first deadly strike came on Thursday, October 8, when an attack killed three people and damaged a Saudia plane. On Saturday came the deadliest attack yet, which killed 13 people and injured more than 300, according to Saudi authorities. Riyadh's airport was hit again on Sunday afternoon, its fourth attack in a week.
Then on Sunday evening, Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority confirmed that King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, in the country's east, had also been targeted. Officials are still assessing the damage, and no casualties have been reported there. The Houthis have since warned airlines, passengers and airport staff to stay away from Saudi airports altogether.
Which Airports Are Open
- Riyadh (King Khalid International): Closed until at least October 17. Saudi officials say they need time to check that the airport's facilities are safe.
- Dammam (King Fahd International): Operating, but with delays and cancellations after Sunday's attack. It has also been taking flights diverted from Riyadh.
- Jeddah (King Abdulaziz International): Open, but heavily disrupted. On Monday, Flightradar24 ranked it the second most disrupted airport in the world, behind Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia's smaller airports haven't been closed, but schedules across the kingdom are shifting at short notice.
Which Airlines Have Canceled Flights
Most foreign airlines have stopped flying to Riyadh for now, and several have cut flights to Jeddah and Dammam too:
- Air France and KLM: Riyadh flights suspended until the end of October.
- Lufthansa Group: Riyadh flights suspended until October 16.
- SriLankan Airlines: Riyadh flights suspended until October 18.
- Air India: Riyadh flights suspended until October 15, and Air India Express until October 14.
- flydubai: Riyadh flights canceled through October 14.
- Emirates and Etihad: Some flights to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam canceled.
- Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways and Air Arabia: Riyadh flights canceled or changed.
In the US, Delta is still due to launch flights between Atlanta and Riyadh on October 23, but it hasn't said whether that will go ahead.
Why It Matters Even If You're Not Going to Saudi Arabia
Many flights between Europe and Asia have been crossing Saudi airspace to avoid Iran and Iraq. Europe's aviation regulator has already told airlines to avoid parts of Saudi airspace, and if the attacks keep spreading, more flights to Dubai, Doha, India and beyond could be rerouted onto longer paths.
There's also the question of whether the conflict escalates. President Trump said over the weekend that the US "may" join Saudi Arabia's fight against the Houthis, but no decision has been announced.
What to Do If You're Booked
- Flying to or from Riyadh before October 18: Your flight is almost certainly canceled. Check with your airline about a refund or a rebooking, and don't head to the airport unless your airline confirms the flight is operating.
- Flying through Jeddah or Dammam: Expect delays and short-notice changes. Check your flight status before you leave for the airport, and leave extra time for connections.
- Booked later in October: Keep an eye on your airline's travel alerts. Many airlines are offering free changes for Saudi flights.
- Check your government's travel advice. The UK now advises against all but essential travel to Riyadh, warns that further attacks on airports are "very likely" and tells British nationals to avoid King Khalid International. Travel insurance may not cover trips to areas your government advises against.
