King Khalid International Airport resumes limited services after a two-week shutdown, but aviation data reveals nearly 86% of capital departures remain disrupted amid regional security risks.
DUBAI, Oct 26, 2026 : More than 7,800 commercial flights departing Saudi Arabia were cancelled or designated no-fly between October 8 and October 25, aviation analytics show, as Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport struggles to restore normal operations following a two-week shutdown.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh reopened on Sunday under strict operating constraints, but flight-tracking monitors indicate the vast majority of scheduled takeoffs remained cancelled.
The restart follows a fortnight of widespread airspace closures and air-defense alerts across the kingdom, driven by missile and drone threats claimed by Yemen’s Houthi movement.
Data compiled by aviation analytics firm Cirium reveals that out of 17,299 scheduled flight departures nationwide during the 18-day period, 7,802 were grounded or marked as no-fly. The figure represents a nationwide cancellation rate of 45.1 percent.
Riyadh suffered the brunt of the disruption. King Khalid International Airport recorded 4,071 disrupted departures out of 4,736 scheduled flights—an 85.96 percent cancellation rate.
Under emergency operational adjustments announced on Saturday, the capital’s hub has split its limited passenger flow: Terminal 1 now handles domestic operations by Saudi national carriers, while Terminal 2 accommodates international services by domestic flag carriers. Several inbound flights arrived on Sunday from Dubai, Paris, and Cairo, yet live flight radar showed only a trickle of departures clearing the runways.
Security concerns flared again over the weekend. Explosions echoed across the capital early Sunday as Saudi-led coalition air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile and two drones directed at Riyadh, alongside a cruise missile aimed at Khamis Mushait. Saudi Civil Defence reported two injuries and localized structural damage from falling shrapnel. Interceptions were also reported in the Mecca and Medina regions on Saturday.
The continued volatility prompted the United States to order the departure of non-emergency government personnel and family members from Saudi Arabia, citing active hazards of aerial strikes and sudden airspace restrictions.
Across the kingdom, secondary hubs experienced varying degrees of disruption between October 8 and October 25. King Fahd International Airport in Dammam recorded 823 cancelled or no-fly departures out of 1,956 (42.08 percent). In Taif, 57.37 percent of scheduled departures failed to fly, while Abha logged a 46.7 percent cancellation rate. Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport proved comparatively resilient, with 1,402 of 6,380 departures affected (21.97 percent), alongside Medina at 17.96 percent.
Disruption levels peaked nationally on October 12, when 60.21 percent of all scheduled outbound flights were cancelled. Although groundings dropped sharply to 16.51 percent on October 24, they jumped back to 44.23 percent on October 25 as the capital airport reopened amidst renewed defensive action.
International carriers have responded by pushing flight resumptions deep into November:
- UAE Carriers: Etihad Airways has halted services to Riyadh and Dammam through November 5. Flydubai has paused flights to Riyadh, Dammam, and Abha through October 29. Air Arabia’s Sharjah departures to Riyadh, Dammam, Abha, and Taif remain suspended indefinitely. Emirates maintained route halts through October 25.
- Indian Carriers: Air India and Air India Express extended flight cancellations for Riyadh and Dammam until November 7, keeping Jeddah routes suspended through October 31. IndiGo has grounded flights across Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Medina through October 31. Akasa Air suspended Jeddah services until November 10 and Riyadh flights through November 30.
- Global Operators: Lufthansa Group extended Riyadh suspensions until November 18 and Dammam through November 30. Philippine Airlines suspended its Riyadh operations until November 29. KLM’s cancellations across Riyadh and Dammam run through October 31. British Airways plans to resume a single daily service to Riyadh on November 3, while Delta Air Lines has deferred its planned Atlanta–Riyadh route launch to March 2027.
Saudi civil avia
