Riyadh flights face widespread cancellations after deadly Houthi attacks
Cirium expects about 60% of Riyadh’s scheduled flights to be cancelled on Monday after deadly attacks, while airlines in Europe and Asia suspend services.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Air traffic over the Saudi capital was sparse on Monday following deadly attacks on its airport by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis. Aviation analytics firm Cirium expected cancellations to affect about 60% of flights scheduled in Riyadh that day.
Deadly attacks disrupt airport operations
Riyadh’s airport stayed shut on Sunday following a strike that left one person dead and nearly a dozen injured. A separate attack the previous day, for which the Houthis claimed responsibility, killed 13 people and injured more than 300.
The attacks caused a disruption to Saudi civil aviation ranked among the most significant in recent years, prompting airlines in both Europe and Asia to suspend services.
Cancellation estimates differ
Cirium’s figures showed that 99.7% of Sunday’s scheduled flights at King Khalid International Airport were cancelled. The Riyadh airport ranks second in Saudi Arabia for traffic, behind Jeddah.
Across Saudi Arabia, Cirium expected more than a third of Monday’s scheduled flights not to operate. FlightRadar24, the flight-tracking website, put the cancellation estimate for Riyadh’s airport at about 78%.
Airlines extend service suspensions
Lufthansa Group (LHAG.DE) has cancelled every Riyadh flight through October 16. Air France-KLM has prolonged its existing suspension of flights serving the Saudi capital in both directions through the end of the month.
On Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration advised US airlines to proceed cautiously when operating flights into Saudi Arabia or through its airspace.
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