Air travel across Saudi Arabia has been severely disrupted following alleged missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. A large number of flights have been cancelled at three of the country’s busiest airports, affecting thousands of passengers, including Umrah pilgrims. Houthi Airport Attacks Effect: Over 1,500 Flights Cancelled in Saudi Arabia.
The disruption has also impacted international flight operations, leaving many travelers stranded at airports and causing delays to religious pilgrimages. According to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, around 500 Bangladeshi passengers have been stranded in Riyadh following the attacks.
Saudi aviation authorities reported that 13 people were killed and more than 300 injured in the October 10 attack. A subsequent attack on October 11 claimed one life and left 11 others injured. Dammam Airport was also reportedly targeted.
Houthi Airport Attacks Effect: Over 1,500 Flights Cancelled:
According to report on Monday, 436 flights had been cancelled at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, representing approximately 64% of the airport’s scheduled flights for the day. At King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, 115 flights were cancelled, while 63 flights were cancelled at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.
A similar situation unfolded on October 11, when 655 flights were cancelled at Riyadh Airport alone, accounting for nearly 98% of its scheduled operations. Following the October 10 attack, flight operations at Riyadh Airport were temporarily suspended due to security concerns.
On Sunday, 158 flights were cancelled and 393 delayed at Jeddah Airport, while 58 flights were cancelled and 115 delayed at Dammam Airport. According to available flight data, the three airports recorded a total of 871 flight cancellations on October 11, while 614 flights had already been cancelled today.
