Flight operations at three of Saudi Arabia’s busiest airports have been severely disrupted, with nearly 1,500 flights cancelled by Monday following a series of deadly attacks attributed to Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
According to Flightradar24 data reviewed by Gulf Business, Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport was the hardest hit with 436 cancellations on Monday, accounting for 64% of its schedule. This followed a massive 98% of flights (655 services) being cancelled on Sunday.
The widespread disruption came after an attack on Saturday that reportedly killed 12 people and injured over 300, forcing authorities to temporarily suspend operations at the Riyadh airport. The attacks have been attributed to the Houthis.
Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport also reported 115 cancellations (15% of services), while Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport listed 63 cancellations (27%) on Monday. The situation has left thousands of travelers, including Umrah pilgrims, stranded.
The attacks mark an escalation in the long-running war between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi rebels, now targeting critical civilian infrastructure.
The situation has had a significant impact on travelers, particularly affecting the large number of international pilgrims who travel to the kingdom for Umrah. Airport authorities are working to restore normal operations while managing the security aftermath of the attacks.
Source: Gulf Business
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