Houthi attacks cancel 86% of flights scheduled in Riyadh
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sowetan
Houthi rebel attacks led to the cancellation of 4,071 of 4,736 flights scheduled at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, or 86%, between 8 and 25 October. The airport partially reopened on Sunday, but international airlines are suspending services to the Saudi capital until November, according to Cirium data.
Between 8 and 25 October, 4,071 of the 4,736 flights scheduled at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh were cancelled, or 86%, according to Cirium, an aviation data analytics company. Attacks by Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia have severely disrupted air traffic in the capital.
Saudi authorities partially reopened the airport on Sunday: domestic flights resumed at Terminal 1, and national carriers were authorised to operate international routes from Terminal 2. The Houthis said on Monday that they had again targeted the airport, which they describe as a military target. Several international airlines have suspended flights to Riyadh until November, while Delta Air Lines has postponed the launch of its route to the city until next year.
The disruption extends beyond the capital. More than 7,800 flights, or 45% of scheduled departures from all Saudi airports, were cancelled over the same period, according to Cirium. The rate exceeded 60% nationwide on 12 October. Cancellations also affected Dammam, at 42%, Abha, at 46.7%, and Najran airport, where all scheduled flights were cancelled.
The partial reopening of Riyadh airport, announced on 25 October, comes after about two weeks of closure and as the Houthis claim attacks on Saudi sites.
