Over 45% of Saudi flights cancelled since Oct 8, residents scramble for alternatives

Since October 8, Saudi Arabia’s air network has faced widespread cancellations and serious airport disruption. Riyadh airport was closed after repeated attacks, while airlines promoted alternative departure points. A regional airline source said authorities had ordered the closure until further notice. Another airline was told it would last at least until October 24.

The disruption reaches beyond cancelled tickets. A Riyadh resident described being diverted to Jeddah during an airport attack, then travelling onward to Qassim. Some travellers have driven to Bahrain or Qatar to fly. Government agencies in Riyadh and the Kingdom Centre have shifted employees to remote work.

The wider effect is continuing uncertainty. Expatriates are reconsidering regular trips home, companies are changing travel plans, and Western embassies have tightened advice. Major events have also been postponed or affected, including the Future Investment Initiative, MDLBEAST Soundstorm, Riyadh Fashion Week and the Red Sea Film Festival.

The disruption is unusually large: Cirium reported that more than 45% of departures from Saudi Arabian airports had been cancelled since October 8. In practical terms, nearly half of scheduled departures were not operating during the period covered by the report.

The cancellations followed attacks on airports, especially Riyadh airport. The Saudi-led coalition accused Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels of attacking Riyadh’s airport 20 times in October alone. Airlines were then told that Riyadh airport would remain closed until further notice, with one source hearing that the closure would last at least until October 24.

The percentage explains why ordinary travel and business routines have been disrupted so sharply. Residents have sought routes through Jeddah, Qassim, Bahrain and Qatar. Government agencies have moved to remote work, while companies have reconsidered travel. Major investment, cultural and sporting events have also been postponed, cancelled or affected.

An airport closure is a decision to stop normal flight operations at that airport. Arrivals and departures are suspended, and airlines must divert, cancel or reroute services. The closure protects passengers, crews, airport staff and aircraft when the airport cannot be used safely.

Missile attacks make normal operations especially dangerous. A missile can strike a runway, aircraft, terminal or nearby infrastructure. Air-traffic controllers may also be unable to manage predictable movements during an attack. Captain Desmond Ross, an aviation expert, said an attack on an airport differs from an attack on a non-aviation target because it directly threatens aviation activity.

The article links Riyadh’s closure to repeated Houthi attacks. The coalition accused the Houthis of targeting Riyadh airport 20 times in October. Airlines were told the closure would last until further notice, or at least until October 24, showing that safety concerns were overriding normal schedules.

The Houthis are described in the article as Iran-backed rebels from Yemen. They are involved in a sharp escalation of fighting with Saudi Arabia. Their attacks have targeted airports and energy infrastructure inside the kingdom, creating a direct security problem for travel and economic activity.

The article reports that the Saudi-led coalition accused the Houthis of attacking Riyadh’s airport 20 times in October alone. Coalition spokesman Turki Al-Malki demanded that the Houthis immediately stop what he called terrorist operations. The attacks led airlines to suspend normal service and authorities to close Riyadh airport.

The source does not give a detailed explanation of the Houthis’ political or military aims. It does show the consequences of their actions: flight cancellations, airport closures, travel warnings and disrupted events. It also places the attacks within the broader ongoing Middle East war, which has increased uncertainty for residents, businesses and investors.

Prolonged cancellations disrupt daily life, commerce and public administration. Residents cannot rely on normal weekend trips or regular journeys home. Expatriates are questioning how long they can manage without air links, while Western embassies have tightened travel warnings. Some Saudis have also resented discussions about expatriates leaving during the crisis.

Businesses are adapting through remote work and alternative transport. Riyadh government agencies told employees to work from home, and the Kingdom Centre also shifted to remote work. A Dubai consultant said employees were not forced to travel, but some were encouraged to drive through Bahrain when client relationships were at risk.

Events face lost visitors and logistical uncertainty. The Future Investment Initiative was postponed until 2027. MDLBEAST Soundstorm, Riyadh Fashion Week, the Red Sea Film Festival and a star-studded tennis tournament were also affected. The prolonged disruption could further weaken confidence in Saudi Arabia’s security and investment ambitions.

When Riyadh airport is closed, travellers must connect through other airports or cross borders by road. The article identifies Qassim as a key domestic alternative, about three hours from Riyadh. Jeddah can also serve as a diversion point before passengers continue their journeys.

One resident’s route shows how this works. After being diverted during an attack on Riyadh airport, the traveller landed in Jeddah and then caught a flight to Qassim. Other residents drove to airports in Bahrain and Qatar to enter or leave Saudi Arabia. These routes replace direct Riyadh services with longer, more complicated journeys.

Companies can use similar workarounds. A Dubai-based consultant said employees were not forced to travel to Saudi Arabia, but those needed to protect client relationships were encouraged to drive via Bahrain. These options depend on road access, border arrangements and available flights, so they cannot fully replace normal Riyadh operations.

Saudi Arabia is trying to diversify its economy beyond oil and attract international investment. That effort depends partly on reliable connections for investors, business leaders, officials and event visitors. Airports make those meetings possible, while major forums give the kingdom a platform to present opportunities and build relationships.

The Future Investment Initiative illustrates the mechanism. For nearly a decade, it has brought global investors, business leaders and heads of state into a Saudi setting. Its postponement until 2027 removes an important opportunity to court investment. Airport closures also make attendance harder for people who might otherwise visit the kingdom.

The security crisis can damage confidence as well as schedules. Karen Elliott House wrote that few people want to visit a country facing persistent deadly missile attacks, and even fewer want to invest there. The article therefore presents prolonged closures and event delays as a blow to Saudi economic ambitions, though it does not quantify the financial loss.