Saudi Arabia has extended the closure of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport following deadly attacks attributed to Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement. Authorities said on Monday that airport operations would remain suspended while safety procedures and operational readiness checks continued.
The Saudi civil aviation authority said the suspension was necessary to complete measures aimed at ensuring the safety of airport facilities. King Khalid International Airport is the country’s second-busiest airport after Jeddah and serves as a major gateway for international travel.
The Riyadh airport closure followed an attack on Saturday that reportedly killed 13 people and injured more than 300. Another attack on Sunday killed one Pakistani national and injured nearly a dozen other people, according to the report. The incidents marked a major security disruption for Saudi Arabia.
The shutdown has significantly affected air travel across the region. Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that 99.7 per cent of scheduled flights at the airport were cancelled on Sunday. Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 also showed no aircraft over Riyadh at the time reported.
Airlines in Europe and Asia have suspended or adjusted services to Saudi Arabia following the attacks. Lufthansa Group cancelled all flights to Riyadh until October 16, while Air France-KLM extended its suspension of services to and from the capital until the end of October. Etihad Airways also extended cancellations affecting flights to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
The disruption has prompted wider aviation safety concerns. The US Federal Aviation Administration advised American carriers on Sunday to exercise caution when flying to or over Saudi Arabia. The extended airport closure has added pressure to an aviation sector already facing disruptions from conflict across the Middle East.
The attacks have also raised concerns about their potential economic impact and major events scheduled in Riyadh this month. Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product is projected to contract by 3.6 per cent this year, partly reflecting reduced oil activity. The kingdom’s flagship investment conference and the WPC Energy Congress are also facing uncertainty as security concerns affect preparations and participation.
