Air India, Akasa Air and IndiGo suspend Riyadh flights after airport blast reports

Which airlines suspended or cancelled Riyadh flights, and how long were the suspensions scheduled to last?

Reported explosions at Riyadh’s international airport led several airlines to pause or reduce service. The main reason was passenger and crew safety while the security situation remained unclear. The disruption affected both scheduled departures and arrivals.

Akasa Air suspended flights to and from Riyadh through Saturday. IndiGo cancelled its Riyadh services through Friday. Air India said a Delhi-to-Riyadh flight returned to Delhi and was later cancelled, then suspended all Riyadh flights until Saturday. Lufthansa Group also suspended flights through October 16.

These dates were planned limits, not guarantees that service would resume immediately. Airlines could review the situation as more information emerged. The article also reports that Riyadh’s airport closed again, with no landing for more than 80 minutes and no takeoff for more than 90 minutes. That made normal schedules difficult to maintain.

What is King Khalid International Airport, and why is it important to Riyadh’s air connections?

King Khalid International Airport is the major airport serving Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital. It connects the city with domestic destinations and international airports through scheduled passenger flights. Because it is a principal gateway, trouble there can affect many airlines and travelers beyond one individual flight.

The article identifies King Khalid International Airport as one of the airports targeted in recent Houthi attacks. It also reports that a separate attack there killed one person and injured eight others, according to Saudi authorities cited by the BBC. Airlines then suspended or cancelled Riyadh services, while one Air India flight returned to Delhi.

When a major airport closes, aircraft cannot safely land or depart there. Airlines must hold flights, divert them, cancel them or return them to their origin. The airport’s importance therefore magnifies the effects of a security incident, including missed connections and wider schedule disruption.

How broad was the disruption: how many airlines, airports and types of flights were affected by the reported attacks?

The reported disruption extended beyond one flight or one airline. Air India, Akasa Air and IndiGo suspended or curtailed Riyadh services. Lufthansa Group said its airlines would also suspend Riyadh flights. The article therefore names four airline organisations or groups involved in the response.

The airport locations mentioned were King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Abha International Airport and airports in Najran. The reported effects covered flights to and from Riyadh, scheduled arrivals and departures, and one Delhi-to-Riyadh flight that returned to Delhi. Flightradar24 reported that Riyadh airport had closed again.

The exact total number of cancelled flights is not given. The article describes several types of disruption instead: suspensions, cancellations, a return flight and halted airport movements. Houthi claims also referred to ballistic and cruise missiles, while earlier attacks reportedly involved missiles and drones. The broad pattern was reduced air connectivity around affected Saudi airports.

What happens to passengers, aircraft and air traffic when an airport closes or an approaching flight turns back?

When an airport closes, air traffic controllers and airlines stop or restrict landings and takeoffs. This protects aircraft and people if runways, terminals or surrounding airspace may be unsafe. Flights already in the air must follow instructions, which can mean holding, diverting to another airport or returning to where they began.

The article gives a direct example. An Air India flight from Delhi to Riyadh turned back to Delhi and was later cancelled in the interest of safety. Flightradar24 reported that Riyadh’s last landing had occurred more than 80 minutes earlier and its last takeoff more than 90 minutes earlier. These figures show how quickly airport activity can stop.

Passengers may be rebooked, refunded or asked to wait, depending on the airline. Aircraft can remain at the departure airport or be diverted elsewhere. Crews and connecting flights also need new plans. The disruption can continue after reopening because aircraft and passengers are no longer in their scheduled places.

Who are the Houthi movement, and why have they been attacking or threatening Saudi airports?

The Houthis are an Iran-backed rebel movement based in Yemen. The article identifies their military spokesperson as Yahya Saree and reports that the group claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi airports. Saudi authorities did not immediately comment on the latest claim, and the Houthis provided no evidence for it.

The group said a ballistic missile damaged Riyadh’s airport. Its military spokesperson later claimed that additional ballistic and cruise missiles were fired at airports in Riyadh and Najran, disrupting flights. Earlier attacks on October 6 and 7 reportedly involved ballistic missiles and drones. Saudi authorities, as cited by the BBC, said one separate Riyadh airport attack killed one person and injured eight.

The article does not state the Houthis’ broader political goals for these particular attacks. It does show the immediate effect: threats to civilian airports raised safety concerns, caused flight disruption and drew condemnation from India. Airlines responded by suspending or cancelling services while the claims and risks remained unsettled.

What is a ballistic missile, and how does it differ from a cruise missile or a drone mentioned in the reports?

A ballistic missile is a weapon launched at high speed that follows a mainly arcing trajectory after its powered launch phase. A cruise missile usually flies through the atmosphere under continuous propulsion and can steer along a planned route. A drone is an uncrewed aircraft that can be remotely controlled or operate with programmed guidance. These are broad technical distinctions, not details confirmed about the reported weapons.

The article says Houthi rebels claimed a ballistic missile damaged Riyadh airport. The group’s military spokesperson later said additional ballistic and cruise missiles were fired at airports in Riyadh and Najran. The article also reports that earlier attacks used ballistic missiles and drones, but it provides no technical specifications.

The difference matters because each weapon can create different detection and response challenges. However, the article does not establish which claims were independently verified. Saudi authorities had not immediately commented on the latest claim. The confirmed consequence described was aviation disruption, including suspended flights and a reported airport closure.

Why do airlines suspend flights based on reports of possible attacks, even before authorities have confirmed exactly what happened?

Airlines suspend flights when credible reports suggest that an airport or its airspace may be unsafe. Their first duty is to protect passengers, crew and aircraft. Waiting for every detail to be confirmed could expose a flight to danger during takeoff, landing or while crossing affected airspace.

The article shows this precaution in action. Air India’s Delhi-to-Riyadh flight returned to Delhi and was later cancelled in the interest of safety. Akasa Air, IndiGo and Lufthansa Group also stopped or curtailed Riyadh services. Flightradar24 reported that Riyadh airport had closed again, while Houthi claims referred to missile attacks.

Early information can be incomplete or disputed. The Houthis provided no evidence for the latest claim, and Saudi authorities did not immediately comment. Even so, airlines can temporarily pause service, monitor developments and restore flights only when conditions improve. This approach may inconvenience travelers, but it limits exposure to a potentially serious safety threat.

Key Facts:

📌 Akasa Air suspended Riyadh flights through Saturday.

📌 IndiGo cancelled Riyadh services through Friday.

📌 Lufthansa Group suspended Riyadh flights through October 16.

📌 King Khalid International Airport serves Riyadh.

📌 India called attacks on the airport unacceptable.

📌 A reported separate attack killed one person and injured eight.

📌 Air India, Akasa Air and IndiGo changed Riyadh services.