Houthi strikes cancel 4,071 flights at King Khalid International Airport

Yemen's Houthi forces have canceled 4,071 scheduled flights at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh since October 8, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. The figure represents approximately 86% of the 4,736 flights planned for the period through October 25.

The disruption stems from a sustained campaign of missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi infrastructure. Houthi forces have aimed at airports, ports, and oil facilities, with Riyadh's second-busiest airport suffering repeated strikes. An attack on October 10 killed 13 people, marking the deadliest incident in the kingdom in over ten years.

Saudi authorities partially reopened the airport on Sunday after an eight-day closure. Domestic operations resumed from Terminal 1, while national carriers restarted international services from Terminal 2. However, the Houthis claimed a fresh attack on Monday, describing the facility as a military target.

International airlines have suspended services to the Saudi capital through November. Delta Air Lines delayed the launch of its Riyadh route until next year. The flight disruptions have also forced the cancellation or postponement of major events, including Saudi Arabia's primary investment conference.

The impact extends beyond the capital. Cirium records show more than 7,800 flights, or 45% of all scheduled departures, were canceled nationwide between October 8 and October 25. Cancellations peaked on October 12 when over 60% of flights were scrapped. Dammam recorded a 42% cancellation rate, while Abha saw 46.7% of flights canceled. At Najran, near the Yemeni border, all scheduled flights were canceled.

The next phase of operations depends on the security situation following Monday's strike. Authorities have not announced a full reopening schedule, and carriers continue to monitor the airspace before restoring regular capacity.