Houthi strikes on Riyadh airport prompt airline suspensions and a Delta delay

Strikes on Riyadh and Dammam

Houthi forces claimed a missile strike on the departure terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, 10 October. Reuters reports that the attack killed 13 people, while Europa Press puts the toll at twelve, and both sources say more than 300 were wounded. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility in a televised speech on Sunday, 11 October, and said the group had also struck the airport in Dammam in the Eastern Province and two facilities of Saudi Aramco. The Saudi civil aviation authority confirmed a strike on Dammam's King Fahd International Airport, adding that damage assessments and safety inspections were under way. A further attack on Riyadh airport that Sunday killed one person and injured eleven, according to Saudi authorities cited by Reuters.

Renewed fire and airspace warnings

On Monday, 12 October, the Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen's government forces reported incoming drones and missiles, though there was no immediate word on whether they had been intercepted. Saudi Arabia said it faced a new barrage of incoming fire and that Riyadh airport would remain shut for now. A Notice to Air Missions issued on Monday keeps King Khalid International Airport closed until 2100 GMT on 17 October. The Houthis renewed their warning against using Saudi airports and said Saudi Arabia would bear responsibility for any failed interceptions.

We urge everyone to take our warnings seriously, and Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for any failed interceptions.

The Federal Aviation Administration advised US airlines on Sunday to exercise caution when operating to or over Saudi Arabia. Houthi statements cited by Spiegel also describe Saudi airports and airspace as legitimate targets, except the holy sites of Mecca and Medina. The Houthis additionally claimed that Saudi Arabia had flown more than 120 airstrikes on the capital Sanaa and other provinces, a claim that could not be independently verified.

Airlines pull back

Delta Air Lines said on Monday that it would delay the launch of its planned nonstop Atlanta-Riyadh service until March 2027. Delta had announced the route last year, months after US President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia, and the service would have made it the only US carrier flying nonstop to the kingdom. Delta said it remained in close contact with partners as it monitored the situation.

We remain in close contact with relevant government and aviation partners, including Saudia and Riyadh Air, as we monitor the situation.

Lufthansa's group has cancelled all flights to Riyadh until 16 October. Air France-KLM extended its suspension of services to and from the Saudi capital until the end of October. Etihad Airways suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia until 13 October, while IndiGo extended cancellations on routes to Riyadh and Dammam until 15 October. Philippine Airlines extended its suspension of Riyadh flights until 29 November, and Akasa Air suspended flights to Jeddah and Riyadh until 13 October.

Saudi leadership and investment outlook

Saudi energy minister Abdulaziz bin Salman acknowledged at an energy conference in Riyadh on Monday that the kingdom was being tested and that energy security could no longer be taken for granted. Executives of ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell and BP were expected at the World Petroleum Council's energy congress, which began on 11 October in Riyadh, but withdrew, according to two people who spoke to the Financial Times. Reuters Breakingviews argued that the attacks threaten Saudi Arabia's 2030 target of $100 billion of annual inward investment and its diversification push. Bloomberg described Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as facing one of his most serious challenges since rising to power almost a decade ago. Spiegel, citing the Wall Street Journal, reported that the crown prince was last seen publicly on Tuesday, 6 October, giving blood, and that he moves between heavily guarded palaces with bunkers.

Yemen war backdrop

Saudi Arabia has fought alongside its allies in Yemen for more than ten years against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who control large areas of northern Yemen. Hostilities between the Houthis and Yemen's government forces resumed in July and intensified in September. Reuters reports that Riyadh re-entered the war to push the Houthis from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait oil route, and Yemeni military sources said pressure on the Houthis could take time to pay off. Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, grouped as the R4 states, jointly condemned the Houthi attacks as a flagrant violation of international law.