Houthi attacks from Yemen, which are close to Iran, have nearly emptied the skies over Riyadh this month. According to the latest data from aviation analysts, from October 8 to 25, approximately 86% of scheduled flights at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, equivalent to 4,071 flights out of a total of 4,736, have been canceled.
Increase in Houthi Attacks
This month, the Houthis have intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting airports, ports, and oil facilities with ballistic missiles and drones. Riyadh Airport, which is the second busiest airport in the kingdom after Jeddah, has been repeatedly attacked, with one of these attacks on October 10 resulting in the deaths of 13 people, marking the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in over a decade.
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Economic and Social Impacts
Saudi officials reopened part of the airport on Sunday after operations were halted since October 10. Domestic flights have resumed from Terminal 1, and national airlines have been allowed to operate international services from Terminal 2. However, the Houthis announced that they have targeted Riyadh Airport once again, calling it a "military target." These attacks have led to the suspension of international airline services to the Saudi capital until November, and Delta Airlines has also postponed launching its Riyadh route until next year.
This disruption has caused the cancellation or postponement of several events in Riyadh, including the Saudi Investment Conference, as flight cancellations have made travel to and within the country difficult. The consequences of this crisis are not limited to the capital, with over 7,800 flights, equivalent to 45% of all scheduled flights from Saudi airports, canceled from October 8 to 25. The peak of these cancellations occurred on October 12, when cancellations accounted for over 60% of scheduled flights nationwide.
Several major airports have also faced severe disruptions, including Riyadh with 86%, Dammam with 42%, and Abha with 46.7%, where the Houthis claimed to have attacked. Additionally, several smaller regional airports, such as Najran near the Yemen border, have seen all flights canceled.
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