Riyadh airport disruption: 4,071 flights cancelled as airlines delay return

More than 4,000 flights have been cancelled or unable to operate at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport this month, with new aviation data revealing the scale of disruption caused by Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.

New figures from aviation analytics company Cirium show that 4,071 of the 4,736 flights scheduled at the airport between 8-25 October were cancelled. That represents 86% of scheduled departures, leaving nearly nine in every 10 flights unable to operate during the period.

The figures come as Riyadh airport gradually resumes operations following a series of missile and drone attacks, although many international airlines have delayed their return to the Saudi capital.

Riyadh airport flight cancellations continue

King Khalid International Airport partially reopened on 25 October, with limited domestic flights and selected international services operated by Saudi carriers. 

Under the airport’s phased reopening plan, Terminal 1 has been designated for domestic services, while Terminal 2 is handling international flights operated by national airlines. 

As we reported yesterday, Yemen’s Houthi movement targeted Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport with a ballistic missile just a day after the Saudi airport partially resumed operations following weeks of disruption. 

International flight cancellations continue

While King Khalid International Airport has begun a phased reopening, many international airlines are still taking a cautious approach to returning to Riyadh. IndiGo has already extended its suspension of flights to the Saudi capital, and several other carriers continue to review their schedules as they monitor the security situation and operational restrictions.

Airlines also face ongoing regulatory hurdles. Under current NOTAMs, carriers must obtain approval from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) before operating flights to or from Riyadh. The airport also remains unavailable as a diversion option for other flights, limiting flexibility for airline operations.

As a result, the return of international services is expected to be gradual, even as domestic flights and a limited number of international routes continue to restart under the airport’s reopening plan.

More than 7,800 flights cancelled across Saudi Arabia

The disruption extends well beyond the Saudi capital. According to Cirium, more than 7,800 flights were cancelled across Saudi Arabian airports between 8-25 October. This represented around 45% of all scheduled departures.

Nationwide cancellations peaked on 12 October, when more than 60% of scheduled flights were grounded.

At Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport, 42% of flights were cancelled during the same period, while Nejran Airport recorded a 100% cancellation rate.

The figures highlight the continuing impact on Saudi Arabia’s aviation network, despite efforts to restore operations at Riyadh.