Saudi Airport Attacks Trigger Massive International Flight Cancellations
Security concerns and Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia have forced dozens of airlines to cancel flights, affecting thousands of passengers across Asia and North America.
Widespread operational restrictions at Saudi Arabian airports have triggered massive flight disruptions following attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants. The instability follows a fatal attack at Riyadh airport on 10 October that killed an Indian national. On 15 October, nearly 47% of scheduled departures across the kingdom were cancelled, with King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh experiencing the highest disruption rate at 81.4%.
Air India and Air India Express have suspended services to Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah until 20 October. Other Indian carriers, including IndiGo and Akasa Air, have extended cancellations to Riyadh until 24 October. The disruptions have heavily impacted travelers from Bangladesh, where 107 flights involving 16,620 passengers were cancelled. Biman Bangladesh Airlines extended its suspension of Dhaka-Riyadh and Dhaka-Dammam flights until 18 October, though it increased capacity to Jeddah and Madinah.
Regional and international carriers have implemented varying levels of suspensions. Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Qatar Airways cancelled multiple routes, while the Saudi national carrier Saudia saw disruptions to 57.1% of its departures. Long-term pauses include Philippine Airlines, which suspended Riyadh services until 29 November, and Delta, which delayed Atlanta-Riyadh flights until March 2027. The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia issued a security alert warning of potential airspace closures and continued travel disruptions.
