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What happened
After strikes on airports serving Riyadh that the Houthi group said it carried out, a number of international and regional carriers suspended services to the Saudi capital. Reports from multiple outlets describe cancellations, mid‑air turnbacks and temporary network changes as airlines reacted to the security threat and to official advisories.
Who was affected
Carriers named in coverage include major Gulf and international airlines. Updates cited in the press mention Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia, Lufthansa, Air India and IndiGo among those that paused flights or adjusted schedules. One outlet reported that nearly half of departures were cancelled during the peak of disruption.
Ripple effects across the region
The suspension of Saudi services produced knock‑on disruption across Middle East networks, particularly on routes between the UAE and Riyadh. Some airlines extended cancellations on specific city pairs; others turned aircraft back in flight while the situation was assessed. Authorities also issued airport advisories that affected operations.
Service status: partial recovery reported
Press reports indicate that flights at Riyadh returned broadly to normal after days of disruption, though the pace of recovery has varied by carrier. At the same time, at least one airline was reported to have extended cancellations on a key Gulf route while officials maintained advisories—so some gaps in schedules may persist.
What travelers should do now
If you have travel booked to, from or via Riyadh, check your airline’s latest operational notices and your booking for rebooking or refund options. Verify the current status of departures and arrivals with Riyadh airport and expect possible schedule changes on short notice. If you are in transit or due to travel shortly, contact your carrier before going to the airport.
What to watch next
Monitor airline communications and Saudi aviation advisories for formal confirmations of resumed schedules or further suspensions. Recovery timings appear to differ by airline and route; travelers should plan for potential disruption until carriers confirm normal operations.
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Reporting reviewed from: Aerospace Global News, The National, ITIJ, Gulf News, The Independent, Sky News, Arabian Business.