Riyadh airport reopens October 18 as airlines maintain flight suspensions to Saudi Arabia

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh reopened on October 18, 2026, after being closed due to Houthi rebel attacks, but many airlines have not yet lifted their suspension of flights to the Saudi capital and other destinations in the kingdom, according to multiple reports. Etihad Airways cancelled all flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh until Monday October 19, while services to Dammam and Jeddah have also been affected. Emirates flight listings show six services between Dubai and Riyadh scheduled for October 20, and Flydubai cancelled flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Abha up to October 19.

The disruption comes amid wider regional uncertainty following a series of Houthi missile and drone attacks on three Saudi airports between October 6 and 12 that killed at least 20 people and injured more than 370 others, the deadliest series of attacks in the country since the Qatif and Dammam mosque bombings in May 2015. Qatar Airways temporarily suspended flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam, with Saudi authorities having suspended operations at King Khalid International Airport while damage assessments and safety inspections were underway at King Fahd International Airport. Some carriers have extended cancellations into November and beyond as airlines assess the security situation.

Sources

The National, Riyadh airport reopens: Which airlines are still cancelling flights to Saudi Arabia?, October 18, 2026, thenationalnews.com; Wego Travel Blog, Qatar Airways Flight Status (October 2026): Riyadh and Dammam Flights Suspended, October 13, 2026, blog.wego.com; Wikipedia, October 2026 Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian airports, accessed October 19, 2026, en.wikipedia.org