Riyadh Airport Flight Cancellations Hit 86% as Houthi Attacks Empty Saudi Skies
RIYADH, Monday, October 26, 2026 — Nearly nine out of every ten scheduled flights at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport were cancelled over the past three weeks as Houthi missile and drone attacks emptied the skies over the Saudi capital, new aviation data showed on Monday.
Figures from aviation analytics firm Cirium, reported by Reuters, showed about 86 per cent of scheduled departures from the airport — 4,071 out of 4,736 flights — were scrapped between October 8 and October 25. The disruption spread far beyond the capital: more than 7,800 flights, or 45 per cent of all scheduled departures from Saudi airports, were cancelled in the same period, with the worst day coming on October 12, when cancellations topped 60 per cent nationwide.
Airport reopened, but skies stay quiet
Saudi authorities partially reopened King Khalid International Airport on Sunday after a closure that began on October 10, following an attack claimed by the Houthis that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300 — the deadliest such incident in the kingdom in more than a decade. Terminal 1 resumed domestic services, while Terminal 2 was opened for international flights operated by national carriers.
Yet flight-tracking data showed little traffic returning on Sunday despite the announcement, and the Houthis said on Monday they had attacked the airport again, calling it a “military target” and warning travellers to stay away. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki said air defences had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched toward Riyadh, and that coalition warplanes had destroyed four ballistic missile launchers, a missile depot and tunnels used by the Houthis.
The coalition operation, the spokesman said, focused on cutting off Houthi supply lines between areas under their control. Explosions were reported in Sanaa and along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, while Houthi media reported strikes in several provinces.
Airlines pull back into November
International carriers have suspended services to the Saudi capital into November, and Delta Air Lines has postponed the launch of its Riyadh route until next year, trade sources said. The upheaval has forced several events in Riyadh to be cancelled or postponed, including the kingdom’s marquee investment conference, as flight cancellations hamper travel to and across the country.
The Houthis have stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia this month, targeting airports, ports and oil facilities with ballistic missiles and drones. On Sunday, explosions rattled the capital and residents received text messages warning of a “hostile aerial threat” to the city. State media reported that shrapnel from intercepted missiles over Khamis Mushait and Ahad Rafidah injured two people and damaged homes and vehicles.
A war spilling into the skies
The aviation shutdown is the most visible civilian cost of a wider conflict that has escalated sharply since the summer, when a years-long truce broke down. The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have repeatedly struck Saudi airports and energy sites, while the Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s internationally recognised government has answered with strikes on Houthi military facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions: Riyadh Flight Cancellations
How many flights at Riyadh airport were cancelled?
About 86 per cent of scheduled departures from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport were cancelled, with 4,071 out of 4,736 flights scrapped between October 8 and October 25, according to figures from aviation analytics firm Cirium reported by Reuters.
How widespread were the cancellations across Saudi Arabia?
More than 7,800 flights, or 45 per cent of all scheduled departures from Saudi airports, were cancelled in the same period. The worst day was October 12, when cancellations topped 60 per cent nationwide.
Did King Khalid International Airport reopen?
Saudi authorities partially reopened the airport on Sunday after a closure that began on October 10. Terminal 1 resumed domestic services, while Terminal 2 was opened for international flights operated by national carriers, although flight-tracking data showed little traffic returning on Sunday.
Why did flights remain quiet after the reopening?
The Houthis said on Monday that they had attacked the airport again, calling it a “military target” and warning travellers to stay away. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki said air defences had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched toward Riyadh.
What effect did the disruption have on airlines and events?
International carriers suspended services to the Saudi capital into November, and Delta Air Lines postponed the launch of its Riyadh route until next year. Several events in Riyadh were also cancelled or postponed, including the kingdom’s marquee investment conference.
