Saudi flight disruption: Over 7,800 flights cancelled no-fly since October 8

Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport resumed operations on Sunday, October 25, after a two-week closure linked to attacks on the Saudi capital, though most scheduled departures remained cancelled according to flight-tracking data.

Cirium figures show that more than 7,800 Saudi departures were cancelled or recorded as no-fly between October 8 and 25, representing about 45.1 percent of 17,299 scheduled departures nationwide. Riyadh’s airport faced the highest disruption, with roughly 86 percent of departures affected.

On October 25, the same day the airport reopened, data indicated a mix of limited flights resuming, but with the majority of departures still cancelled. The airport had implemented new terminal arrangements: Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights, operated by Saudi national carriers.

The disruptions followed ongoing security concerns, including reported explosions and threats in the region, with Yemen’s Houthi movement claiming attacks on Saudi airports and infrastructure. Saudi authorities issued advisories and urged passengers with confirmed bookings to verify flight status with airlines before travelling.

Airline suspensions extended across the region, with several international carriers delaying or canceling services to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah through late October and into November. Passengers were advised to check official airline channels for real-time updates and to review refund or rebooking options where available.