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Saudi capital's airport to remain shut this week
Airlines across Europe and Asia canceled service as Saudi aviation officials kept the airport shut for safety checks after missile and drone attacks.
- Saudi civil aviation authorities extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport until 2100 GMT on October 17 following Houthi attacks, suspending operations to "allow for the completion of procedures to ensure the safety and operational readiness of the airport's facilities."
- The suspension follows lethal missile and drone strikes by the Iran-aligned Houthis, including a Saturday attack that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, the deadliest incident in the kingdom in over a decade.
- Widespread cancellations across Saudi airports reached 46.4% as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency widened airspace warnings on Friday, forcing planes to avoid Riyadh while jets continue landing at Jeddah.
- Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways suspended services due to "regional disruption" and the "current situation," while attacks put the WPC Energy Congress under pressure after organizers dropped top executives from the programme.
- Aviation safety expert Mark Zee, founder of OPSGROUP, warned "this level of sustained intense attack on civil aviation is unprecedented," as Delta Air Lines postponed Atlanta-Riyadh service until March 2027 amid a projected 3.6% GDP contraction.
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Riyadh Flight Disruption: Airport shut until Saturday as airlines cancel Saudi flights
Riyadh's King Khalid airport is shut until Saturday after Houthi attacks, and airlines including Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Qatar Airways have cancelled Saudi flights. Here is the full list.
·Noida, India
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources5
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
L 33%
C 67%
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