October 9, 2026 — Update to our October 8 story. Strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Thursday killed three Saudi citizens, including a Saudia pilot, the Associated Press reports. The airport has reopened, but Europe’s aviation safety agency widened its airspace warning on Friday and more airlines have suspended Riyadh flights.
What changed
- Thursday’s attack: Saudi aviation officials said strikes hit airport facilities and a parked Saudia aircraft. AP reports three Saudi citizens were killed. Earlier reports gave three dead and 36 injured on Wednesday; sources differ on whether these are separate tolls.
- Other targets: The Houthis claimed missiles at Riyadh’s airport, Najran airport and the Khamis Mushait airbase, Reuters reports. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted three.
- Airport status: Riyadh (RUH) has reopened, and Saudia says operations are back to normal. Closure and reopening times are TBA.
- Cancellations: About 39% of Riyadh flights (293) were cancelled Thursday, per Cirium. At least 124 were cancelled by Friday afternoon, per FlightAware.
- Threat: The Houthis say any aircraft in Saudi airspace is a target, except over Mecca and Medina. There is no ceasefire.
Government and regulator advice
- EASA: Its Saudi conflict-zone bulletin was revised October 9 and runs to November 16. It tells operators not to fly at any altitude in a defined part of Saudi airspace and to use caution elsewhere. It cites repeated attacks on the Riyadh area and attacks reaching Tabuk, Medina and Yanbu.
- United Kingdom: On October 8 the Foreign Office began advising against all but essential travel to Riyadh, Aseer, Najran and Jizan provinces, and to Taif city and its airport. It names Abha, Jizan, Najran, Riyadh, Jeddah and Yanbu airports as under heightened threat.
- United States: The advisory is unchanged at Level 3, “Reconsider travel”, dated September 15. The US Mission issued a new alert on October 8 and an update; we could not open either page.
- Canada: The Saudi Arabia page still shows “exercise a high degree of caution”. Its update date did not load.
- Other US posts: Search results list October 8 security alerts from US missions in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Jerusalem and Iraq. We could not open them.
Airline suspensions to Riyadh
| Airline | Suspended through |
|---|---|
| Lufthansa Group | October 16 |
| KLM (Riyadh and Dammam), Air France (Riyadh) | October 24 |
| British Airways | Resumption planned November 3 |
| Cathay Pacific | January 31 |
| Air India, Air India Express, Akasa | October 10 |
| Philippine Airlines | At least October 11 |
| PIA | From October 9; end date TBA |
| flydubai | Riyadh and Yanbu through October 10; Abha through October 11 |
| Emirates, Etihad | Friday Riyadh flights cancelled; Etihad also one Saturday rotation |
What it means for airline travelers
- Do not plan standby travel through Riyadh this week. Fewer airlines are flying, so the seats that remain fill with rebooked passengers.
- Confirm with both the airline and the airport before leaving for the airport. That is the US Mission’s advice, as quoted in press reports.
- Interline options are thin. Many of the carriers pass riders use for a backup have suspended service.
- Jeddah, Yanbu and Abha are named in UK advice too. Check before connecting through any Saudi airport.
- Enroll in STEP or Registration of Canadians Abroad if you are in the region, and keep a paid fallback fare in mind.
- Check your travel insurance. Many policies exclude war risks or areas under a government warning.
Sources
- EASA: CZIB-2026-09-R1: Airspace of Saudi Arabia
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: Saudi Arabia travel advice
- US Department of State: Saudi Arabia Travel Advisory
- Government of Canada: Travel advice and advisories for Saudi Arabia
- Associated Press via Fortune: Authorities said Houthi-claimed attacks on Riyadh airport killed three Saudi citizens, as airlines suspend at least 124 flights
- Al Jazeera: Saudi Arabia reopens Riyadh airport after Houthi attack kills three
- Reuters via Dawn: Saudis reel from attacks as allies debate ‘involvement’
- Aerospace Global News: Airlines cancel flights to Riyadh following attacks on Saudi airports
- The National: Saudi Arabia flights: Airlines including British Airways and KLM suspend or cancel routes
- The National: Riyadh airport flights broadly back to normal after days of disruption
- Gulf News: UAE Flights Update: Emirates, Etihad Cancel Riyadh Services
- ProPakistani: PIA Temporarily Suspends Flights to Riyadh
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