Cirium data shows 86% of Riyadh flights canceled since October 8

Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported on Monday that 4,071 of the 4,736 scheduled flights at King Khalid International Airport were canceled between October 8 and October 25.

The figure represents an 86% reduction in air traffic at the Saudi capital's primary hub. The disruptions stem from a sustained campaign by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, who have targeted infrastructure including airports, ports, and oil facilities using ballistic missiles and drones. An attack on October 10 resulted in 13 deaths, marking the deadliest incident in the kingdom in more than ten years.

Saudi authorities partially reopened the airport on Sunday following a halt that began on October 10. Domestic services resumed from Terminal 1, while national carriers were authorized to operate international flights from Terminal 2. However, the Houthis announced on Monday that they had struck the airport again, referring to it as a military target.

International airlines have suspended services to Riyadh through November. Delta Air Lines has delayed the launch of its new Riyadh route until next year. The travel disruptions have extended beyond the skies, leading to the cancellation or postponement of several events in the capital, including Saudi Arabia's major investment conference.

The impact is not limited to the capital. Cirium data indicates that more than 7,800 flights, or 45% of all scheduled departures from Saudi airports, were canceled during the same two-week period. Cancellation rates peaked on October 12, when over 60% of flights nationwide were scrapped.

Other major hubs have also experienced high cancellation rates. Dammam recorded a 42% drop in flights, while Abha saw 46.7% of its scheduled flights canceled. Najran, an airport located near the Yemeni border, canceled every flight during the period. Some smaller regional airports also lost the majority of their services.

The next phase of operations depends on the status of the security perimeter around the capital, with authorities monitoring the situation following the latest strike announcement.