King Khalid International Airport worst hit as 7,802 Saudi departures disrupted

Disruption overview

Nearly half of Saudi Arabia's scheduled departures were canceled or classified as no-fly between 8 and 25 October 2026, affecting 7,802 services amid repeated attacks. Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport accounted for 4,071 affected departures and remains heavily restricted despite partially reopening on 25 October after a 2-week shutdown. Lufthansa Group, Air France-KLM, and IndiGo have extended cancellations or restrictions, while Delta Air Lines has delayed its Atlanta–Riyadh launch until March 2027. If your journey's affected, compensation is unlikely because the attacks are outside airlines' control, but refund, rebooking, and care rights may still apply depending on your flight.

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Disruption details

Repeated attacks on Saudi Arabia disrupted 7,802 scheduled departures between 8 and 25 October 2026, with King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh the worst affected. Across the kingdom, 45.1% of 17,299 planned outbound flights were canceled or classified as no-fly.

For passengers, this has meant canceled journeys and restricted options for reaching or leaving the Saudi capital. If you're due to travel, Riyadh's partial reopening on 25 October doesn't mean normal schedules have returned. International services remain heavily restricted, and cancellations extend into November.

Cirium aviation figures published on 26 October show the scale of the disruption over the 18-day period. At King Khalid International Airport, 4,071 of 4,736 scheduled departures were affected—a disruption rate of 85.96%.

These figures combine canceled services with departures classified as no-fly. They count affected scheduled flights, not aircraft physically grounded or passengers stranded.

Riyadh's airport suspended commercial operations following an attack on 10 October that killed 13 people. It partially reopened on 25 October after a 2-week shutdown, but the wider flight network hasn't recovered.

On 26 October, the Houthis claimed another attack on Riyadh Airport. Saudi reports of fresh missile threats and interceptions added to the uncertainty surrounding travel. The disruption remains ongoing despite the partial reopening.

The impact extends beyond the capital. Other Saudi cities recorded affected departures or disruption rates over the same period:

• Dammam had 823 affected departures out of 1,956 scheduled flights.

• Jeddah had 1,402 affected departures out of 6,380 scheduled flights.

• Taif recorded a disruption rate of 57.37%.

• Abha recorded a disruption rate of 46.7%.

• Medina recorded a disruption rate of 17.96%.

Nationally, the disruption reached its highest level on 12 October, when more than 60% of scheduled departures didn't operate. It rose again to 44.23% on 25 October, the day Riyadh partially reopened.

Airlines have adjusted their plans beyond the initial shutdown. Lufthansa Group has extended Riyadh cancellations through 18 November, while Air France-KLM has restrictions in place through 7 November. IndiGo has also suspended selected Saudi routes.

Delta Air Lines has postponed the launch of its planned Atlanta–Riyadh service until March 2027. The disruption has also affected major events in Riyadh, including Saudi Arabia's flagship investment conference, as international visitors struggle to reach the capital.

Compensation is unlikely for flights disrupted by these attacks because the cause is outside the airline's control, including on EU or UK itineraries where EC 261 or UK 261 would otherwise apply.

That doesn't mean you're without support. Depending on the rules covering your journey, you may still be entitled to a refund or rebooking if your flight is canceled, along with care and assistance while you wait. This can include meals, refreshments, and accommodation with transportation if an overnight stay is needed.

Your exact rights depend on your flight and circumstances. You can use AirHelp's free flight checker to better understand whether compensation could apply to your particular disruption.

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Information on this page is AI generated, but always checked by a (human) passenger right expert.