Riyadh Airport Shut Until Oct 17 as Airlines Cancel Flights

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh will remain closed until at least October 17 after a series of missile attacks, leaving hundreds of flights cancelled across Saudi Arabia. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) extended the suspension on Monday while inspections at the airport continue.

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) currently keeps the airport shut until 21:00 UTC on October 17, which is midnight local time. The airport was struck on October 10 and 11, following an earlier attack that damaged a Saudia Airbus A320.

Air Data News reported on Sunday that the strikes had caused casualties and widespread disruption at the airport.

The impact on schedules has grown sharply. By 16:00 local time on Monday, 486 of the 1,048 departures scheduled from Saudi airports, about 46%, had been cancelled or had not operated. At Riyadh, almost every flight was cancelled on Sunday, and roughly 78% of Monday's services were also called off. The airport normally handles about 700 flights a day.

Foreign airlines have extended their suspensions, some well beyond the airport's closure date. Lufthansa Group has halted Riyadh flights through October 16, Air France-KLM through the end of the month, and Philippine Airlines until November 29. IndiGo and Air India Express have cancelled Riyadh services through October 15, while flydubai has suspended flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Abha through October 14. Etihad Airways has temporarily stopped Saudi services, and Delta Air Lines has delayed its Atlanta–Riyadh launch to March 2027.

Passengers have few alternatives. Jeddah and Dammam cannot fully replace Riyadh, and there is no government programme to move stranded travelers to other airports. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has advised British nationals who need to leave to consider overland routes to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE or Jordan, after checking border conditions and entry rules. It also advises against all but essential travel to Saudi airports, except Medina. Rebooking and refunds depend on each airline.

Aviation regulators have also reacted. The US Federal Aviation Administration has urged American operators to exercise caution in the region, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency has issued information on risks to civil flights in Saudi airspace. The NOTAM does not guarantee a reopening on October 17, and the closure could be extended if security conditions require it.

Avionyz will continue to follow this story and share updates as more details emerge.

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