RIYADH – Flight operations at one of the major Saudi airport face disruption due to Yemen’s Houthi attacks amid ongoing regional tensions, leaving a huge numbers of travellers in limbo.
Saudi-led coalition forces on Monday said they intercepted and destroyed ballistic missile launched by Houthis toward Riyadh, indicating escalation in the region.
Riyadh Airport Open or Closed?
A day earlier, Saudi Arabia partially reopened Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on restoring services at two terminals despite renewed threats from Yemen’s Houthi group.
The airport had suspended operations on October 10 after an attack claimed by the Houthis left 13 people dead, marking one of the deadliest incidents in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.
Following the resumption announcement, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree warned that the airport remained a target and called on airlines, airport employees and passengers to stay away from the facility.
Airport authorities had announced late Saturday that Terminal 1 would handle domestic services, while Terminal 2 would accommodate international flights operated by Saudi national carriers from Sunday.
However, flight-tracking information from Flightradar24 indicated that air traffic at the airport remained limited despite the partial reopening.
Jeddah Airport Update
Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport continues to operate, but passengers are facing travel interruptions, including delayed and cancelled flights, particularly on routes to Riyadh and Dammam. Travellers have been urged to confirm their flight status with their airlines before heading to the airport.
Earlier this month, the Saudi-led coalition said the Houthis had carried out 20 attacks on the airport between October 1 and 11.
