ع
The General Authority of Civil Aviation announced the extension of the suspension at King Khalid International Airport to allow for comprehensive safety inspections of facilities and verification of operational readiness after the attacks. Saudi officials reported that the Saturday strike on the airport complex killed 12 people including Saudi nationals and foreign residents from multiple countries while wounding 309 others some of whom remain in critical condition. The measure follows similar action after earlier strikes earlier in the week that damaged a Saudia aircraft and claimed additional lives according to aviation authorities. Flight tracking data from Cirium showed that the airport cancelled 99.7 percent of scheduled flights on Sunday with more than a third of kingdom-wide operations affected on Monday.
GACA figures for 2025 placed annual passenger traffic across Saudi airports at a record 140.9 million with King Khalid International Airport accounting for nearly 29 percent of the total and averaging 112,000 passengers daily before the current disruptions. The attacks have prompted international carriers to extend cancellations with Lufthansa Group halting services to Riyadh until October 16 and Air France-KLM maintaining its suspension through the end of the month. FlightRadar24 estimated that 78 percent of Riyadh flights faced cancellation on Monday as airlines diverted incoming traffic and grounded departures amid ongoing security assessments. The authority has not provided a timeline for resumption of services as inspections continue.
A Reuters dispatch on the events detailed how the weekend strikes represented an escalation by the Iran-aligned Houthis who claimed responsibility and warned airlines to avoid Saudi airspace entirely except near the holy cities. The Saturday attack followed strikes on Wednesday and Thursday that had already killed at least four people and damaged infrastructure at the facility which serves a metropolitan area of more than eight million residents. Saudi civil defence teams worked through the weekend to assess structural damage to terminals while emergency services treated the injured at nearby hospitals. The incidents mark the highest civilian toll from a single attack in the kingdom since 2015.
European and Asian carriers have adjusted schedules in response to the closures with several citing updated risk assessments from regulators including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency which expanded its advisory against operations in parts of Saudi airspace. The Federal Aviation Administration advised United States airlines to exercise caution when flying to or over the kingdom in light of the repeated strikes. Industry analysts noted that the disruptions come at a sensitive time ahead of major investment and energy conferences scheduled in Riyadh though organisers indicated events would proceed with heightened security. Passenger rights regulations issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation require carriers to provide alternatives rebooking and support during such force majeure events.
Data compiled by aviation analytics firm Cirium underscored the scale of the impact with hundreds of flights across the region affected and knock-on delays reported at hubs in Jeddah and Dammam. The authority’s 2025 air traffic report had highlighted strong growth in Saudi aviation with King Khalid International Airport emerging as a key node in the kingdom’s Vision 2030 connectivity goals prior to the current crisis. Officials have emphasised that safety remains the paramount concern during the verification process with no operations authorised until all necessary clearances are secured. International condemnation of the attacks has included statements from foreign leaders urging de-escalation in the broader regional conflict.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation has coordinated with airlines on passenger communications directing travellers to check official updates before heading to any airport. Previous notices had indicated an initial closure through late Sunday but the extension reflects the extent of damage assessments still underway at the facility. No flights have operated to or from the airport since Saturday according to real-time tracking services with many long-haul services rerouted or cancelled outright. The authority continues to monitor the situation and has pledged to release further information as inspections progress.
