Riyadh airport cancels 86% of flights since mid-October

Aviation data released Monday reveals that 86% of scheduled flights at King Khalid International Airport have been canceled since October 8. The figures indicate that 4,071 out of 4,736 planned departures were scrapped over the past two weeks. This reduction leaves only a small fraction of the usual air traffic operating out of the Saudi capital.

The disruption began on October 10 when Houthi forces launched a missile and drone attack on the airport. The strike killed 13 people, marking the deadliest incident in the kingdom in more than a decade. Saudi authorities halted all operations that day and kept the airport closed until Sunday. On that day, domestic flights resumed from Terminal 1, and international services restarted from Terminal 2.

The partial reopening lasted less than a full day. On Monday, the Houthis announced another attack on the airport, which they identified as a military target. This new strike prompted immediate adjustments to the schedule. International airlines have suspended services to Riyadh through November. Delta Air Lines has also delayed the start of its new Riyadh route until next year.

The impact of the Houthi campaign extends beyond the capital. Cirium data shows that 7,800 flights were canceled nationwide between October 8 and October 25. This represents 45% of all scheduled departures from Saudi airports. The cancellation rate peaked on October 12, when more than 60% of flights across the country were grounded.

Other regional hubs have faced similar disruptions. Dammam airport canceled 42% of its flights during the two-week period. Abha saw a 46.7% cancellation rate, while the Houthis claimed strikes in that area. At Najran, located near the Yemeni border, every scheduled flight was canceled. Smaller regional airports lost the majority of their services as well.

The travel disruptions have affected sectors other than aviation. Several major events in Riyadh have been canceled or postponed due to the difficulty of moving people between cities. Saudi Arabia's primary investment conference is among the events impacted by the reduced flight capacity. The Houthis have targeted airports, ports, and oil facilities in recent weeks, intensifying their campaign against the kingdom.