Houthi Missile Strikes Paralyze Saudi Aviation Network

Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that 4,071 of 4,736 scheduled flights at the capital’s airport were scrapped following an October 10 strike that killed 13 people, the deadliest such incident in over a decade. While authorities partially reopened terminals on Sunday, the Houthi movement continues to label the facility a military target, prompting international carriers to suspend services well into November. Delta Air Lines has delayed the launch of its Riyadh route until next year, signaling deep uncertainty among global operators.

The volatility has rippled across the country, with 45% of all scheduled departures from Saudi airports cancelled during the same period. Regional hubs faced even sharper declines: Najran saw all flights grounded, while Dammam and Abha recorded cancellation rates of 42% and 46.7% respectively. Beyond passenger travel, the disruption has forced the postponement of high-profile investment conferences, stalling the kingdom’s business agenda and complicating international access to key commercial centers.