Numerous airlines have halted their flights to and from Saudi Arabia due to security concerns following recent Houthi attacks on civilian and aviation infrastructure. Indian carriers, including Air India, Akasa Air, and IndiGo, have announced extended suspensions of their services. This decision comes after the tragic confirmation of an Indian national’s death during the attack at Riyadh airport on October 10.

Air India and Air India Express have suspended all flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah until October 20. Akasa Air has similarly extended its suspension for flights to Riyadh until October 24 and to Jeddah until October 21. IndiGo has also cancelled its flights to Saudi Arabia until October 24, reflecting the ongoing safety concerns in the region.

Middle Eastern Airlines Affected by Suspensions

Several airlines from the Middle East have also suspended their flights to Saudi Arabia. Qatar Airways has temporarily halted its services to and from Riyadh and Dammam. Emirates is facing disruptions across its Saudi Arabian network, affecting flights between Dubai and major cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, as reported by Gulf Business.

Etihad Airways has confirmed that all flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, as well as Dammam, are cancelled until October 18. Additionally, flydubai has extended its cancellations for flights to Riyadh, Dammam, and Abha until October 19. Air Arabia has also reported affected services, with cancellations for flights to Riyadh, Abha, Dammam, and Taif.

Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, has cancelled its flights to and from Riyadh from October 12 to October 17, reflecting the widespread impact of the ongoing situation.

International Airlines and Future Operations

International airlines have similarly adjusted their operations in response to the situation. The Franco-Dutch group Air France-KLM has extended its suspension of services to and from Riyadh until the end of October. Cathay Pacific has postponed the resumption of its routes between Hong Kong and Riyadh until January 31, 2027, while Delta Airlines has delayed its planned flights from Atlanta to Riyadh until March 2027.

Lufthansa has cancelled all flights to Riyadh until October 16, with no confirmed extensions reported as of now. Malaysia Airlines has also cancelled flights to and from Jeddah and Madinah until October 17 as a precautionary measure. Philippine Airlines has extended its flight suspension to Riyadh until November 29.

As for the reopening of Riyadh airport, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation has extended the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport while assessing the safety and operational readiness of its facilities. The latest Notice to Airmen indicates that the airport will remain closed until 2100 GMT on October 17, which corresponds to midnight in Saudi Arabia at the start of October 18. However, this deadline does not confirm a reopening time.

Reports from the Saudi-led coalition indicate that the Houthi movement has executed 20 attacks on Riyadh airport this month, with further attacks on Abha airport resulting in casualties, including three fatalities and 28 injuries. The ongoing situation continues to raise significant security concerns for both airlines and passengers.

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