Cirium Data Reveals 169 of 378 Scheduled Departures at King Khalid International Airport Were Cancelled or Did Not Operate Following Houthi Missile Attacks.
Nearly half of the flights scheduled to depart from Riyadh on Thursday were cancelled or did not operate as planned, following Houthi attacks targeting airports in Saudi Arabia, according to aviation data provider Cirium.
The disruption prompted several domestic and international airlines to suspend services or make changes to their flight schedules.
Data from Cirium showed that King Khalid International Airport (RUH) had 378 departures scheduled for Thursday, of which 169 flights, representing 44.71 per cent, were either cancelled or classified as “no fly”.
Incoming flights were also affected, with 124 of the 369 scheduled arrivals, or 33.60 per cent, cancelled or not operating.
Overall, 293 of the 747 scheduled arrivals and departures at Riyadh’s main airport were disrupted, accounting for approximately 39 per cent of the day’s flight operations.
Saudia Records the Highest Number of Disruptions
Saudi Arabia’s national airline, Saudia, experienced the largest number of affected flights.
According to Cirium, the carrier cancelled or did not operate 97 of its 140 scheduled departures, representing 69.29 per cent.
Its arriving services faced similar disruption, with 87 of 136 scheduled flights, or 63.97 per cent, cancelled or not operating.
Low-cost airlines in the kingdom were also significantly affected.
Flynas recorded 30 cancellations out of 91 scheduled departures, equivalent to 32.97 per cent, while flyadeal had 20 of its 54 departures disrupted, accounting for 37.04 per cent.
Riyadh Air also reported two cancellations among its 15 scheduled departures, representing 13.33 per cent.
Collectively, Saudia, flynas and flyadeal accounted for 147 of the airport’s 169 cancelled or non-operating departures, representing approximately 87 per cent.
The same three airlines were responsible for 105 of the 124 disrupted arrivals, or around 85 per cent.
International Airlines Suspend Riyadh Services
Several overseas airlines also cancelled their scheduled flights to and from Riyadh as security concerns affected aviation operations.
Cirium figures indicated that Turkish Airlines cancelled all four of its scheduled departures and four arrivals.
Air India Express cancelled both of its scheduled departures, while SriLankan Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Yemenia and Turkish carrier AJet each cancelled their single scheduled departure.
Among incoming flights, Lufthansa and ITA Airways cancelled their respective scheduled arrivals.
Other regional airlines experienced partial disruptions.
Qatar Airways cancelled three of its eight departures and one of seven arrivals, while Gulf Air cancelled one of its five scheduled flights in each direction.
EgyptAir reported cancellations affecting two of its four departures and two of its four arrivals.
Oman Air also cancelled one of its three scheduled departures.
UAE-based airlines Etihad Airways and flydubai separately announced flight delays and cancellations following the Houthi attacks.
Flights Between Saudi Arabia and South Asia Affected
Air travel between Saudi Arabia and South Asian destinations also experienced disruption.
According to Indian media reports, Air India and Air India Express suspended their Riyadh services until October 10, while IndiGo reduced its operations.
Cirium data showed that IndiGo cancelled one of its three scheduled arrivals, although all three of its departures remained unaffected.
Pakistan International Airlines, meanwhile, operated its two scheduled departures and two arrivals without reported disruption.
Houthi Attacks Raise Concerns Over Airport Security
The widespread flight cancellations followed Houthi attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
Saudi authorities reported that three people had been killed and dozens of others injured in the attacks.
On Thursday, the Houthis also claimed responsibility for another ballistic missile attack targeting Riyadh’s airport.
However, Saudi Arabia had not confirmed that particular claim at the time of reporting, according to the Associated Press.
The latest incidents are not the first to disrupt Saudi aviation operations this year.
In July, flydubai, Saudia and flynas cancelled flights to and from Abha following a Houthi missile and drone attack on the airport.
King Khalid International Airport is one of Saudi Arabia’s major aviation hubs, having handled approximately 37 million passengers in 2024, according to airport figures.
Travel Advice for Passengers
Passengers scheduled to travel to or from Riyadh are encouraged to verify their flight status directly with their airlines before travelling to the airport.
Travellers should also monitor airline notifications and official airport updates for possible cancellations, delays or schedule adjustments as the regional security situation develops.
