Will Riyadh's airport reopen on October 17? On paper, King Khalid International Airport, Saudi Arabia's main gateway, is closed until 21:00 GMT on Saturday, October 17, which is midnight at the end of Saturday in Riyadh and 5 p.m. Saturday in New York. That's according to an official notice to pilots that Saudi aviation authorities extended earlier this week.
But that date is a deadline for the current closure, not a promise to reopen. And with attacks on Saudi Arabia continuing as recently as Wednesday, travelers shouldn't assume flights will be back to normal by Sunday.
King Khalid International Airport · Riyadh
When Riyadh Flights Could Return
Contrail
Why the Airport Is Closed
Riyadh's airport has been hit repeatedly since October 6 by missiles and drones launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels. The deadliest strike, on October 10, hit the complex that holds Terminals 3 and 4, and the death toll from that attack reached 13 with more than 300 injured. Terminal 4 was hit again the next day.
Saudi Arabia's aviation authority has said the suspension gives officials time to complete safety procedures and check that the airport is ready to operate. It hasn't announced a schedule for reopening beyond the current notice.
Why the Date Could Slip
The attacks haven't stopped. On Wednesday, a Houthi missile hit an office building belonging to Saudi Aramco, the state oil company, and the group said it would keep targeting Saudi airports and oil facilities. Saudi forces also said they intercepted a missile aimed at Riyadh.
The closure has already been extended, and it can be extended again if inspections aren't finished or the security situation hasn't improved. Even if the airport does reopen, it could take days for schedules to recover, since airlines need aircraft and crews back in position and have to clear their own security reviews.
When Airlines Plan to Return
The airport reopening and your airline returning are two different things. Many carriers have set their own dates, and several go well past Saturday.
According to airline announcements reported this week, Lufthansa Group has canceled Riyadh flights through October 16, while Air France and KLM have suspended Riyadh service through the end of October. Etihad has canceled Riyadh flights until October 19, according to Arabian Business, which also reported suspensions by Qatar Airways, Gulf Air and Riyadh Air. Philippine Airlines has pushed its return to November 29, and Delta has delayed its planned Atlanta to Riyadh launch until March 2027.
Jeddah's airport remains open but is under strain as airlines move flights there, while Dammam and airports in Saudi Arabia's south have also been disrupted.
What to Do If You're Booked
Start with your airline, not the airport. Check its travel alerts page for Saudi Arabia, since many airlines flying there have posted waivers that let you change or cancel without a fee. Check whether yours has.
If your airline cancels your flight and you choose not to travel, you're entitled to a cash refund on any flight to, from or within the US under Department of Transportation rules. Elsewhere, refund rules depend on the airline and the country, so ask for a refund rather than accepting a voucher if that's what you want.
If you have travel insurance, read the fine print before counting on it. Many policies exclude acts of war, which could matter here.
