Riyadh airport is closed after Houthi attacks that the Saudi-led coalition says have killed 17 people since 1 October. Airlines have suspended Saudi flights, Delta has delayed its new route to 2027, and agents face a week of rebooking.
Cover image: A Saudia Boeing 787 at a gate at night (file photo) — photo by Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has been closed since 10 October 2026 after a Houthi missile scored a direct hit on Terminal 3, and airlines across Europe, the Gulf and Asia have suspended Saudi flights in response. Saudi aviation authorities confirmed 12 killed and 309 injured in the 10 October strike, while later Reuters reporting put that day's toll at 13 dead and more than 300 wounded, with one more person killed in a further attack on 11 October. As of 10:10 UTC on 16 October, no reopening had been announced: the closure notice runs to 21:00 GMT on 17 October, and travellers are told to check their carrier's advisory before heading to the airport.
The shutdown strands one of the Gulf's most important hubs. Riyadh airport is Saudi Arabia's second busiest after Jeddah, and Cirium data showed 99.7 per cent of scheduled flights cancelled on Sunday 11 October. Delta Air Lines has delayed its new Atlanta to Riyadh nonstop, due to start on 23 October, until March 2027. Delta, Air India and Akasa Air have published refund or rebooking terms; for other carriers, check the airline's own advisory.
How the attacks on Riyadh airport unfolded
The first deadly wave came on 7 and 8 October, when drone and missile strikes targeted King Khalid International and Abha airport in the south. Three people were killed and 36 injured, according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), and flights were disrupted into Thursday. AeroTime reported that the dead were Saudi nationals, including a Saudia captain, and that a Saudia A320-family aircraft parked at a gate with no passengers aboard was seriously damaged. By Friday morning services were broadly recovering, with Flightradar24 showing delays falling back toward normal levels.
The second and far deadlier wave began on 10 October. GACA confirmed at least 12 killed and 309 injured when a missile launched from Houthi territory in Yemen struck the airport; according to AeroTime, it appears to have scored a direct hit on Terminal 3. Reuters-based reporting later gave the 10 October toll as 13 killed and more than 300 wounded.
A further attack on 11 October killed one person and injured nearly a dozen others. At a press conference on 15 October, Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki put the cumulative toll higher still, at 17 dead and more than 330 injured in 20 attacks on the airport since 1 October, Xinhua reported. Readers should treat casualty figures as developing: they have been revised upward at every stage of this story.
Which airlines have suspended Riyadh and Saudi Arabia flights?
Suspensions announced between 9 and 14 October change daily, and every date below should be checked against the carrier before travel. The position as reported:
| Airline | Routes suspended | Suspended until | Refunds and rebooking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lufthansa Group | All Riyadh flights | 16 October | Check carrier advisory |
| Air France-KLM | Riyadh | End of October | Check carrier advisory |
| Etihad | Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah | 19 October | Check carrier advisory |
| IndiGo | Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah | 24 October (extended 15 October) | Check flight status online; support teams assisting |
| Air India | Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah | 20 October (extended 16 October) | Full refund on cancellation |
| Akasa Air | Riyadh, Jeddah | Riyadh 24 October; Jeddah 21 October | Full refund within seven days or free rescheduling |
| Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Philippine Airlines | Riyadh (plus Dammam for Qatar) | Qatar Airways: no end date given; Gulf Air: 17 October; PAL: 29 November | Check carrier advisories |
Several carriers have already pushed their dates past the airport's scheduled reopening. On 15 October IndiGo extended its Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah cancellations to 24 October inclusive, and Akasa Air extended Riyadh to 24 October and Jeddah to 21 October, with refunds within seven days or free rescheduling. On 16 October Air India extended its Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah cancellations to 20 October, with full refunds. See our earlier coverage of Middle East schedule changes in September for context.
One clarification for the trade: some roundups list Cathay Pacific's postponement of Riyadh and Dubai to 31 January 2027 as part of this story. Cathay's own notice was last updated on 28 September, before these attacks, so it should not be presented as a reaction to them.
Delta delays its Atlanta to Riyadh launch to March 2027
Delta Air Lines announced on 12 October that its planned Atlanta to Riyadh nonstop, due to begin on 23 October, will now start in March 2027. It would have been Delta's first direct passenger service to Saudi Arabia, and no US airline currently flies nonstop to the kingdom. Delta says it is in close contact with government and aviation partners including Saudia and Riyadh Air, and that a travel waiver for Riyadh plus refunds of the unflown portion are available. The delay freezes a new US to Saudi link just as Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 aviation push needs lift, not disruption.
Riyadh Air itself moved several Boeing 787-9s out of Riyadh on 13 October, with flight tracking confirming HZ-RXAA to AlUla and HZ-RXAC to Medina. Aviation A2Z relayed a report that the flights were made under fighter-jet escort, which flight tracking cannot verify. Riyadh Air has been flying scheduled services since June 2026.
What regulators are telling airlines about Saudi airspace
On 11 October the US Federal Aviation Administration told American operators to exercise caution flying to or over Saudi Arabia, citing military activity and interference with satellite navigation signals. The notice covers the Jeddah flight information region, runs until 10 December 2026, and advises caution rather than prohibiting flights. On 9 October the European Union Aviation Safety Agency widened its Saudi airspace bulletin, advising operators to avoid two defined areas in the south east and north west of the Jeddah region. That bulletin is valid until 16 November.
The wider picture is sobering for the kingdom's events calendar. Reuters reporting notes that Riyadh events this month, including the flagship investment conference and the WPC Energy Congress, are under pressure, with Saudi real GDP projected to contract 3.6 per cent this year. Yemen's Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Riyadh airport open now?
As of 10:10 UTC on 16 October 2026, King Khalid International Airport remained closed, with the suspension notice running to 21:00 GMT on 17 October. The date has already been extended more than once, so check your airline's live advisory rather than relying on the notice alone.
Which airlines have cancelled Saudi Arabia flights?
Lufthansa Group, Air France-KLM, Etihad, IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air and Philippine Airlines have all suspended Riyadh or wider Saudi services, with end dates ranging from 16 October (Lufthansa Group) and 19 October (Etihad) to 20 October (Air India), 24 October (IndiGo), the end of October (Air France-KLM) and 29 November (Philippine Airlines). Dates move daily, so reconfirm before rebooking clients.
Can I get a refund for a cancelled Riyadh flight?
Yes, on the affected carriers. Air India is offering full refunds, Akasa Air refunds to the original payment source within seven days or free rescheduling, and Delta offers a Riyadh waiver plus refunds of the unflown portion. Passengers booked through travel partners should contact the partner directly.
Has Delta cancelled its new Riyadh route?
No, it has delayed it. The Atlanta to Riyadh nonstop due on 23 October 2026 is postponed to March 2027. Delta says Saudi Arabia remains an important market and that it is coordinating with Saudia and Riyadh Air.
Sources
- AeroTime, Missile attack on Riyadh's airport kills twelve
- AeroTime, Delta postpones Saudi Arabia launch after airport attacks
- Delta News Hub, Delta delays planned Atlanta to Riyadh flights
- AirlineGeeks, Airlines pause service to Saudi Arabia
- ET TravelWorld, Skies over Riyadh largely empty after strikes
- ET TravelWorld, IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air cancel Saudi flights
- Deccan Chronicle, Closure of Riyadh airport extended
- Aviation A2Z, Riyadh Air moves 787 fleet
- The National, Riyadh airport flights back to normal after days of disruption
- Xinhua via Global Times, 17 killed, over 330 injured in attacks on Riyadh airport since Oct. 1
- Aerospace Global News, Airlines suspending Riyadh flights: full list
- The Hindu, Air India extends Saudi cancellations to 20 October
