More than 7,800 scheduled departures from Saudi Arabia were cancelled or recorded as not operating between October 8 and October 25, 2026, as security concerns and airport closures disrupted air travel across the kingdom. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, 7,802 of 17,299 scheduled departures were affected, representing 45.1% of all departures during the period.
Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport experienced the most severe disruption among major Saudi airports. Although the airport resumed operations on October 25 following a two-week closure, flight-tracking data indicated that cancellations remained high after services restarted.
Riyadh Airport Records the Highest Disruption
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh recorded 4,071 affected departures out of 4,736 scheduled flights between October 8 and 25. This represented a disruption rate of approximately 86%, making the capital’s airport the worst affected among the kingdom’s major aviation hubs.
Other airports also experienced significant interruptions. King Fahd International Airport in Dammam recorded 823 affected departures out of 1,956, while King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah reported 1,402 affected flights out of 6,380 scheduled departures.
Nationwide disruption peaked on October 12, when 60.21% of scheduled departures were cancelled or recorded as not operating. Although the rate eased on some subsequent days, it rose again on October 25, the day Riyadh airport reopened.
Security Concerns Continue to Affect Air Travel
The disruption follows reported missile and drone threats targeting Saudi infrastructure, including airports. Yemen’s Houthi movement has claimed attacks on Saudi targets, while Saudi authorities have reported interceptions and damage associated with aerial threats.
The security situation has prompted precautionary measures, including airport closures, changes to flight schedules and travel advisories warning passengers about possible cancellations and airspace restrictions.
Riyadh’s reopening represents a step towards restoring operations, but the continued disruption indicates that returning to normal schedules may take time. Airport authorities and airlines continue to assess operational conditions as the security situation develops.
Airlines Extend Flight Suspensions
Several international carriers have adjusted their Saudi Arabia schedules, with some suspending services or extending cancellations beyond October.
Affected airlines have included Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, Etihad Airways, flydubai and Lufthansa Group. The affected destinations and suspension periods vary by airline, route and date.
Passengers should not assume that all services have been cancelled or that previously announced suspension dates remain unchanged. Airlines may revise schedules as conditions evolve, and some flights may resume before others.
What Travellers Should Know
Passengers travelling to or from Saudi Arabia should verify their flight status directly with their airline before leaving for the airport. Travellers should also confirm terminal information, check notifications about schedule changes and review available refund or rebooking options if their flight is affected.
The Cirium figures combine flights recorded as cancelled with those classified as “no-fly”, meaning they did not operate as scheduled. The data does not establish that every affected flight was disrupted for the same reason.
With more than 7,800 departures affected during the reporting period, Saudi Arabia’s aviation network has faced substantial disruption. Riyadh airport’s reopening offers a potential path towards recovery, but ongoing security concerns and airline schedule adjustments continue to create uncertainty for passengers.
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