RIYADH – Several airlines, including Lufthansa, Air India, IndiGo and others, have suspended flights to the Saudi capital, leaving thousands of passengers facing cancellations, delays and uncertainty.
Riyadh’s aviation network has been thrown into turmoil after a fresh security scare at King Khalid International Airport, forcing major airlines to suspend flights, divert aircraft and cancel hundreds of scheduled services.
The latest disruption comes after Houthi movement claimed it had targeted Riyadh airport with a ballistic missile, while Saudi authorities said their air-defence systems intercepted missiles heading toward the capital and Khamis Mushait.
The rapidly developing situation prompted airlines to reassess operations, with nearly half of Riyadh’s scheduled departures affected by Thursday afternoon.
Lufthansa Group has suspended flights to Riyadh through October 16, citing the latest developments in the Middle East. Indian carriers have also announced sweeping changes.
Air India has cancelled all flights to and from Riyadh until October 10, while its Delhi-Riyadh flight AI2243 turned back to Delhi on Thursday over concerns for passenger and crew safety. Travellers affected by the cancellation were offered full refunds.
IndiGo has suspended Riyadh operations until October 9, while a Hyderabad-Riyadh flight was diverted to Dammam. Additional Riyadh services, including flights involving Delhi, were also cancelled.
Akasa Air initially cancelled its Kochi-Riyadh and return services before extending the disruption through October 10. Air India Express has separately suspended Riyadh flights until October 10, offering passengers refunds or free rescheduling.
Riyadh Departures
The scale of the disruption has raised fresh concerns for travellers. Around 169 of 378 scheduled departures from Riyadh were cancelled by Thursday afternoon, meaning roughly 45% of planned departures were affected.
Several dozen international flights bound for Riyadh were also cancelled, while arrivals faced significant disruption. More cancellations are expected across Saudi airports as airlines continue monitoring the security situation.
Other international carriers have also altered their schedules. Philippine Airlines has adjusted services through at least October 11, while Singapore Airlines postponed a planned launch.
The crisis intensified after thick black smoke and flames were seen rising from a stationary aircraft at King Khalid International Airport. The aircraft was reportedly empty at the time of the incident. Houthi movement subsequently claimed responsibility, saying it had launched a ballistic missile toward the airport.
The group also issued a fresh warning to airlines operating in Saudi airspace, describing the area as a potential “theater for military operations” and calling its latest message a “last warning.”
Riyadh Airport Attack: Saudia Airbus A310 Catches Fire in apparent Houthis Missile Strike
