RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, October 11, 2026 — Update to our October 10 story. King Khalid International Airport (RUH) is closed. Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority suspended all operations after an attack on the airport on Saturday, October 10, killed 12 people and wounded 309. No reopening time has been confirmed.
What changed since Saturday
- The airport is shut. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) halted operations on Saturday to assess damage and run safety checks. On Saturday morning our report had Gulf carriers expecting a return to normal on Sunday.
- Closure notice: The National reports an aviation notice closing RUH until midnight Sunday, October 11, Riyadh time, as a precaution. The notice does not say when passenger flights restart. Reopening for passengers: TBA.
- Casualties: GACA put the toll at 12 dead and 309 wounded, Al Jazeera reports. A U.S. citizen is among the dead. It was the third attack on the airport in a week, according to ABC News (Australia).
- Damage: Onmanorama reports heavy damage to Terminals 3 and 4. ABC says a ceiling collapsed near a departure gate. GACA has not published a damage report.
- Flights lost: Flightradar24 listed 606 Riyadh flights cancelled on Sunday (293 departures and 313 arrivals), The National reports. FlightAware counted 324 cancellations on Saturday, 182 of them Saudia flights, according to CBS News.
- Diversions: a few inbound flights went to Dammam and Jeddah, Onmanorama reports.
- New Houthi warning: on Sunday the Houthis told airlines, airport workers and travellers to stay away from Saudi airports and airspace. They said Mecca and Medina are exempt.
- Dammam: the Saudi-led coalition said a projectile fell near King Fahd International Airport (DMM) on Saturday.
Airline by airline
| Airline | Riyadh flights | Reported by |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates | Dubai–Riyadh cancelled October 11 and 12. Dammam, Jeddah and Medina flights also cancelled October 11; some Dammam and Jeddah flights cancelled October 12 | Gulf News |
| Etihad | Three Abu Dhabi round trips cancelled October 11; EY551/552 cancelled October 12 | The National |
| flydubai | Cancelled October 11 and 12 | Gulf News |
| Air Arabia | Sharjah–Riyadh cancelled October 11 and 12 | Gulf News |
| Kuwait Airways | Sunday flights cancelled; restart TBA | Nation Thailand |
| Qatar Airways | Doha–Riyadh cancellations on October 11; restart TBA | Gulf News |
| Air India | Cancelled through October 15 | Onmanorama |
| Air India Express | Cancelled through October 14 | Onmanorama |
| Akasa Air | Suspended until October 13 | Gulf News |
| Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian | Suspended through October 16 | Travel Tourister |
| Pakistan International Airlines | Suspended; end date TBA | Travel Tourister |
| Saudia, flynas, flyadeal, Riyadh Air | Disrupted; no restart dates published | Travel Tourister |
Delta: the airline’s first Atlanta–Riyadh flight is planned for October 23 on an Airbus A350-900. It is scheduled daily through October 30, then three times a week. Before Saturday’s attack, CEO Ed Bastian said “Safety is going to make the call,” Hoodline reports. Delta’s decision: TBA.
Government advice
- The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh “strongly recommends” that U.S. citizens avoid the airport and the area around it.
- Australia now advises against travel to King Khalid International Airport.
- The EU Aviation Safety Agency has widened its guidance on Saudi airspace.
What it means for non-revs
- Do not list to, from or through Riyadh. There are no flights to stand by for, and governments are telling travellers to stay away from the airport.
- Expect a long backlog. More than 900 Riyadh flights were cancelled across Saturday and Sunday. Revenue passengers from those flights will be rebooked first when service returns, so standby seats will be scarce for days.
- Other Saudi airports are not a safe workaround. Emirates has cancelled Dammam, Jeddah and Medina flights too, and the Houthi warning covers Saudi airports generally.
- Connecting through the Gulf: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha are operating, but displaced Riyadh passengers are being re-routed there. Check loads before using ZED or interline tickets on those carriers.
- Delta employees: hold off on plans around the October 23 Atlanta–Riyadh launch until Delta announces a decision.
- Already in Saudi Arabia? Do not go to the airport without a confirmed operating flight. Contact your airline and follow embassy alerts.
Sources
- The National — Riyadh airport closure: UAE flight cancellations extend into Tuesday
- ABC News (Australia) — No flights in or out of Riyadh after spate of Houthi attacks on airports in the Middle East
- Al Jazeera — Yemen fighting expands as Houthis attack Saudi airport: What to know
- Gulf News — Latest UAE Flight Updates: Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia Cancellations and Delays
- Gulf News — Riyadh Airport Attack: Flights Suspended, Injuries Reported, Travel Warnings Issued
- Onmanorama — Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh airport operations suspended; Air India flights cancelled till Oct 15
- Nation Thailand — Yemen’s Houthis renew warning to avoid Saudi Arabia’s airports
- CBS News — Live Updates: Trump says he is considering whether U.S. should join fight against Houthis after Saudi airport strike
- Travel Tourister — Riyadh Airport Closure: Fresh Attacks & Airline Cancellations
- Hoodline — Delta Atlanta-Riyadh Flight in Doubt After Saudi Airport Attacks
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