Air travel in Saudi Arabia has faced major disruptions following attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group from Yemen on airports in Riyadh and Abha. A Gulf News report states that dozens of flights departing from Riyadh airport were cancelled on Thursday, with various international airlines also suspending their services.
Due to the conflict, Singapore Airlines has postponed the launch of its new service to Riyadh until March 28, while Philippine Airlines has cancelled flights to the city until at least October 11.
Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Saudia, along with EgyptAir, IndiGo, and Air India, have also cancelled numerous scheduled flights from Riyadh. Repeated attacks originating from Yemen have forced the temporary suspension of operations at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport for several hours at a time over the past few days. The risk of attacks has made aircraft takeoffs and landings in Saudi Arabia unsafe; meanwhile, an attack has also targeted Abha airport in the country’s southwest.
According to data from the aviation analytics firm Cirium, 169 of the 378 flights scheduled to depart from Riyadh by 4:25 PM on October 8 were cancelled or did not operate.
The situation regarding incoming flights is similarly precarious; out of 369 scheduled arrivals, 124 were cancelled or did not operate.
About 70% of Saudia Flights Grounded
Saudia has been the most severely affected carrier. Out of 140 scheduled departures from Riyadh, 97 were cancelled or did not take off.
Additionally, 87 of the 136 Saudia flights bound for Riyadh were cancelled or did not operate. Disruptions also affected Flynas (30 out of 91 outbound flights cancelled) and Flyadeal (20 out of 54 flights cancelled). Two of Riyadh Air’s 15 flights were cancelled or grounded.
Major Impact on International Flights
All four flights scheduled to depart from Riyadh via Turkish Airlines were cancelled or did not operate. Three out of eight Qatar Airways flights, two out of four EgyptAir flights, and one out of three Oman Air flights have been affected.
Both scheduled Air India Express flights were cancelled. Neither of the two Air India flights operated. Scheduled flights for SriLankan Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Yemenia, and AJet were also cancelled or did not operate.
The situation is similar for international flights arriving in Riyadh. All four scheduled Turkish Airlines arrival flights were cancelled. Two out of four EgyptAir flights, one out of five Gulf Air flights, and one out of three flydubai flights have been affected.
Meanwhile, last week, Cathay Pacific extended the suspension of its flights to Dubai and Riyadh until January 31. Due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, several US and European airlines have also continued to limit their flight operations in the region.
