October 8, 2026 — Update to our October 7 story. Saudi Arabia’s aviation regulator has confirmed that attacks on the Riyadh and Abha airports killed three people and injured 36. Yemen’s Houthis claimed another missile strike on Riyadh’s airport on Thursday and told airlines to leave Saudi airspace. By late afternoon roughly 40% of Riyadh’s departures were cancelled. The US Mission issued a new security alert.
What changed in Saudi Arabia
- Deaths confirmed: The General Authority of Civil Aviation said attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport killed three civilians and injured 36. Two women died at Abha, where 28 were hurt. One man died at Riyadh, where eight were hurt. Both airports were damaged. Yesterday we reported that no hit had been confirmed.
- Thursday’s claim: Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said a ballistic missile hit Riyadh’s airport on October 8. Saudi authorities have not confirmed a hit. The coalition said it intercepted two missiles fired toward Riyadh and one toward Khamis Mushait.
- In Riyadh: Explosions were heard across the city. Euronews reports that diplomats were told to shelter in place.
- Warning to airlines: Saree warned international airlines “for the last time” to stop using Saudi airspace. He exempted the airspace over Mecca and Medina.
- Flights halted: The National reports flights at Riyadh stopped for about two hours on Thursday. Exact times are TBA and we found no statement from the regulator.
- Cancellations: Flightradar24 data showed 153 departures cancelled, or 39%, by 4 pm Saudi time. Cirium counted 169 of 378 departures and 124 of 369 arrivals at 4:25 pm. The two providers count differently.
- By airline at Riyadh, per Cirium: Saudia cancelled 97 of 140 departures, flynas 30 of 91 and flyadeal 20 of 54. Turkish Airlines cancelled all four. Emirates and Etihad cancelled none.
- Other Saudi airports: We found no formal closure at Abha, Jeddah, Jazan or Najran. Abha’s operating status was not reported (TBA).
Airline suspensions
| Airline | What | Until |
|---|---|---|
| Philippine Airlines | Riyadh flights cancelled | At least Oct 11 |
| Air India, Air India Express | Riyadh suspended (headline only; not confirmed) | Oct 10 |
| Air France | Dubai and Riyadh suspended (unchanged) | Oct 24 |
| Cathay Pacific | Dubai and Riyadh cancelled | Jan 31, 2027 |
| Wizz Air | All Abu Dhabi and Dubai flights cancelled for winter | Oct 25, 2026 – Mar 27, 2027 |
US alert and advisories
- New US Mission alert, October 7: The second in three days. Press reports say it urges heightened vigilance and warns of possible flight cancellations and airspace closures. It tells Americans to confirm flights with both the airline and the airport. US government staff may not travel within 20 miles of the Yemen border without authorization. We could not open the embassy page.
- US advisory: Unchanged at Level 3, dated September 15.
- UK advice: Unchanged since October 6.
- Australia lowers UAE and Qatar: Australian outlets report that Smartraveller moved both countries from Level 3 to Level 2 on October 8. It still warns that airspace could close at short notice. The official pages had not caught up when we checked.
Airspace and the wider Gulf
- UAE airports: Open, per Gulf News on Thursday.
- New notices to airlines: France told its operators on October 7 to stay out of the Jeddah flight region except on set routes at high altitude, through October 14. Germany issued a risk advisory through November 10.
- Kuwait: Still closed to overflights until November 2.
- Aden, Yemen: No new report on the airport’s status. Reopening remains TBA.
- US–Iran: Talks continue through intermediaries with no ceasefire. CBS reports the White House has asked for strike options. A tanker was hit off Qatar’s north coast on October 7.
Israel
- Dubai flights: The UAE revoked landing permits for Israeli airlines on October 7. El Al, Arkia and Israir cancelled their last Dubai–Tel Aviv repatriation flights, affecting about 1,000 passengers. No reason was given.
- Alternative: Etihad now runs eight daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.
- flydubai: Its Tel Aviv suspension now runs “at least through October 14”, the Times of Israel reports.
- 48-hour crew rule: Still no official text. Reports disagree on whether it covers crew or all non-Israeli passengers. The start date is TBA.
What it means for airline travelers
- Avoid non-rev travel through Riyadh for now. The airport has stopped and restarted several times this week, and Thursday’s cancellations will take days to clear.
- Check twice. The US alert says to confirm your flight with the airline and with the airport before you leave.
- Abha, Jazan and Najran remain inside or near the border zone that the UK and Canada warn against.
- Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha are operating, but expect longer flight times, tighter connections and the odd cancellation on Saudi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq and Lebanon routes.
- Booked on Wizz Air to the UAE this winter? Those flights are gone. Ask the airline about a refund.
- Israel–Dubai: Route through Abu Dhabi on Etihad instead.
- Carry funds for a confirmed ticket and extra hotel nights. Register with STEP (US) or Registration of Canadians Abroad, and check that your insurance covers a Level 3 destination.
Sources
- Al Jazeera: Three killed, 36 injured in Houthi attacks on Saudi airports, Riyadh says
- Euronews: Houthis claim missile strikes on Riyadh airport as explosions heard in Saudi capital
- TIME: Houthi Attacks on Saudi Airports Kill 3 Amid Escalating War in Yemen
- The National: Middle East latest: Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia ‘will not go unpunished’, says coalition
- Gulf Business: More than 150 Riyadh airport flights cancelled following attacks
- Gulf News / Bloomberg: Airlines Suspend Flights to Riyadh Following Houthi Airport Attack
- Gulf News: US-Iran standoff: What UAE residents need to know today (Oct. 8, 2026)
- The National: Wizz Air cancels winter season flights to Abu Dhabi and Dubai routes
- Arab Times: US Mission in Saudi Arabia Issues Security Alert Amid Houthi Threats
- CBS News: Iran War Updates: Oil prices surge as Trump reportedly considers resuming strikes before midterm elections
- Safe Airspace (OPSGROUP): Saudi Arabia
- OPSGROUP: Middle East Airspace – Current Operational Picture
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: Saudi Arabia travel advice
- US State Department: Travel Advisories
- Travel Weekly (Australia): Smartraveller lowers advice for Qatar and UAE
- Karryon: DFAT lowers travel warnings for Qatar & Dubai, Abu Dhabi in big travel boost
- Al Jazeera: Tanker hit by multiple projectiles off north coast of Qatar, UKMTO says
- The Times of Israel: Dubai repatriation flights nixed after UAE pulls landing permit for Israeli carriers
- Ynet: Flydubai attack: Israel’s Transport Ministry sought crew data only after three years of requests
Get NonRev Travel News by email
A weekly recap newsletter, sent out every Sunday, with the airline, airport, cruise and travel-warning news that matters to airline employees and retirees. Free.
ADVERTISEMENT
