Houthi Strikes on Riyadh and Abha Airports Disrupt Saudi Flights

Houthi missile and drone attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport between October 6 and 8, 2026 have halted some flights, cancelled others, and prompted new warnings from governments and airlines. Saudi authorities report at least three people killed and 36 injured across the attacks on Saudi airports, and the Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted three ballistic missiles on October 8. Most scheduled departures at Riyadh still operated, but Air India and Lufthansa Group have suspended service there for days.

What happened between October 6 and 8

Quick facts: Abha was struck on October 6, King Khalid in Riyadh was disrupted on October 7, and the Riyadh disruption continued into October 8.

Witnesses told the Associated Press they heard several explosions in Riyadh, including one at the airport that halted flights. Flights there were suspended for more than an hour on the morning of October 7, according to The National's report on Riyadh airport disruptions. The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, claimed a missile hit the airport and disrupted air traffic, but Al Jazeera could not independently confirm that claim.

How much disruption the flight data shows

Quick facts: On the morning of October 8, Flightradar24 data cited by The National recorded 58 delayed departures (about 15% of the day's schedule) and 11 cancellations (about 3%).

The average departure delay was 45 minutes, and the platform rated the airport's disruption index at 4.2 out of 5, which it classes as major. Those cancellation shares mean the airport was still handling most of its schedule, although GB News headlined its coverage as hundreds of cancelled flights, a figure none of the sources reviewed for this article confirmed. The Aviation Hub's report on the operational disruption describes the same pattern. The figures are a single-morning snapshot, so expect them to change.

Individual flights reported affected include Saudia SV311 to Cairo, delayed more than two hours, Yemenia IY533 to Aden, delayed more than three hours, and Saudia SV562 to Dubai and Turkish Airlines TK145 to Istanbul, both cancelled.

Which airlines changed their Riyadh service

Quick facts: Air India and Air India Express halted Riyadh flights through October 10, IndiGo cancelled several Riyadh routes on October 9, and Lufthansa Group suspended Riyadh flights through October 16.

Air India flight AI2243 from Delhi turned back on October 8 and was then cancelled, according to Business Standard's report on Indian airlines cancelling Riyadh flights. IndiGo diverted a Hyderabad flight to Dammam. British Airways returned to Riyadh on October 1 with one daily flight, with a planned increase to two from October 25, and had not announced a new suspension as of October 8, according to Travel Tourister's Saudi flight status update. That same update describes Emirates as operating with minor delays only, and Saudia as heavily disrupted in early October.

Official travel advisories

Quick facts: The US State Department rates Saudi Arabia Level 3 (Reconsider Travel), a rating issued September 15, 2026, and sets Level 4 (Do Not Travel) for the Yemen border region.

The State Department advisory says commercial flights are operating from Saudi Arabia, though they "have been significantly disrupted at times." It also notes that Iranian missile and drone attacks have targeted airports in the kingdom and refers readers to FAA warnings on regional airspace. US citizens in Riyadh were told to expect possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions, and to check their departure status directly with the airline and the airport, as reporting on the Level 3 advisory amid Houthi attacks also summarizes.

A US Mission Saudi Arabia security alert dated October 7, 2026 covers the same warning, and Safe Airspace's conflict-zone database tracks the regional risk level for airspace. A separate report on the Level 3 advisory frames it as a response to rising conflict. Travel Tourister also reports that the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all travel within 10 km of the Yemen border, and that Australia's Smartraveller advises Australians to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia. Those two advisories were not reviewed directly for this article.

Casualties and the Saudi response

Quick facts: Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation reported at least three civilians killed and 36 injured in attacks on Saudi airports.

Saudi civil defence said debris from an intercepted missile damaged a kindergarten and a medical clinic complex in Riyadh, without saying whether anyone was hurt. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said forces destroyed three Houthi ballistic missiles, two headed toward Riyadh and one toward Khamis Mushait near the Yemeni border. Qatar, Oman and Egypt condemned the attacks on the airports, per the same Al Jazeera report.

The Houthi warning to airlines

Quick facts: The Houthis warned aviation companies to avoid Saudi airspace, with the exception of the airspace over Mecca and Medina.

That warning moves the dispute from individual strikes toward a direct threat to commercial routing. Carriers that overfly or serve the Arabian Peninsula will weigh it against their schedules, which is why several airlines have chosen multi-day suspensions rather than day-by-day decisions. Check the carrier's own notice before you fly, not a secondary headline.

Context: this is a pattern, not a single night

Quick facts: A Houthi missile was intercepted near Riyadh airport on September 18, and a September 19 attack caused a large smoke plume at a fuel storage area on the airport site.

For the broader regional backdrop, CBS News's live coverage of the Iran conflict tracks the wider situation. Fighting in Yemen has also intensified. The International Organization for Migration reports more than 200,000 people displaced, up from 76,000 in mid-September, figures Al Jazeera cites in its coverage. Earlier in the year, Houthi missile strikes triggered mass cancellations across the Middle East, as we covered in our earlier Middle East disruption guide. For the wider airspace picture, see our September piece on Gulf airspace disruptions.

What travelers should check now

Quick facts: Confirm each flight with the airline, read the State Department advisory for Saudi Arabia, and check your trip insurance exclusions before you depart.

Saudi authorities advise passengers to check directly with their airlines before travelling. Because schedules are moving day to day, a booking made even a few days ago may already have changed. Travel insurance policies commonly exclude events that were already known when the policy was bought, so keep copies of any cancellation notices and the policy wording together.

What to watch next

Quick facts: Air India's stated resumption date is October 10, the Lufthansa Group suspension runs through October 16, and British Airways plans to double its Riyadh frequency from October 25.

A secondary headline dated October 9 claims King Khalid was closed with 300 flights cancelled. None of the sources reviewed for this article confirmed that figure, so treat it as unverified. Watch airline notices and government advisories, and expect the resumption dates above to move if attacks continue.

People also ask

Is it safe to fly to Riyadh right now?

Riyadh's airport is open but disrupted. Flights were suspended for more than an hour on October 7, and the airport reported delays and cancellations on October 8. The US advisory for Saudi Arabia is Level 3, which means reconsider travel. Anyone with a flight there should confirm the schedule with the airline and weigh the advisory against their own plans.

Which airlines have suspended Riyadh flights?

Air India and Air India Express halted Riyadh service through October 10. Lufthansa Group airlines suspended Riyadh flights through October 16. IndiGo cancelled several routes on October 9. Emirates and Etihad were reported operating with mostly minor delays, and British Airways had not announced a new suspension as of October 8.

Does the US have a travel advisory for Saudi Arabia?

Yes. The State Department rates Saudi Arabia Level 3, Reconsider Travel, issued September 15, 2026. It sets Level 4, Do Not Travel, for the Yemen border region, and it says commercial flights are operating though significantly disrupted at times. The advisory is the reference point to check before booking.

Is Abha airport open?

Abha was struck on October 6, and reports say it is operating under elevated alert. The sources reviewed did not report a formal closure. Travelers headed there should confirm departures directly with their airline and monitor local notices, since status can change within hours.

What should I do if my Riyadh flight is cancelled?

Ask the airline for a written cancellation notice and check whether it offers rebooking or a refund. Keep receipts for any extra costs. Then check your travel insurance policy for disruption coverage and its exclusions. Official guidance from the Saudi authorities is to contact the airline directly.

Why are Houthi attacks hitting airports?

The Houthis have claimed the strikes, and Saudi and coalition forces say they intercepted several missiles. Al Jazeera reports that the Houthis also warned aviation companies to avoid Saudi airspace except over Mecca and Medina. Attacks on airports raise the risk to flights, so disruption can continue even when most departures still operate.

Facts checked against current sources as of October 9, 2026. Confirm with your airline and official government advisories before booking, traveling or making any decision.