Riyadh airport to resume flights Sunday following closure after Houthi attacks

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was closed for two weeks after deadly attacks by Yemen’s Houthis. The airport announced that flights would resume on Sunday, October 25, 2026. This matters because Riyadh is Saudi Arabia’s capital and its main international airport connects passengers, airlines, and businesses with the country.

The airport’s announcement gave a specific reopening plan. Terminal 1 would handle domestic flights. Terminal 2 would handle international flights operated by national carriers. This arrangement allows airport managers to restart services while organizing passengers and airlines through designated facilities.

The announcement shows that operations were returning, but it does not say that every flight or airline would immediately operate normally. It also does not provide a detailed security assessment or explain whether schedules would be limited. The reopening followed continued Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia, so airport operations remained linked to the wider security situation.

King Khalid International Airport announced a clear terminal split for the restart. Terminal 1 will be designated for domestic flights. Terminal 2 will be designated for international flights operated by national carriers. The article does not name those carriers or identify which airlines will use Terminal 1.

This separation gives airport staff a simple way to organize traffic during the reopening. Domestic and international passengers can be directed to different terminals, while airlines can receive instructions about where to check in, board, and process travelers. It also helps airport authorities manage the return of services after the two-week closure.

The arrangement was scheduled to take effect on Sunday, October 25, 2026. The announcement does not say whether all international airlines would resume service or whether flights would operate on reduced schedules. It only specifies Terminal 2 for international flights operated by national carriers, leaving other airline details unstated.

King Khalid International Airport remained closed for two weeks before its planned reopening on Sunday, October 25, 2026. That duration is the clearest measure of the disruption described in the article. The closure came after deadly Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis continued striking the kingdom.

A two-week closure affects more than aircraft movements. Passengers cannot use normal departures or arrivals, and airlines must cancel, reroute, or postpone services. Airport employees and connected businesses also face an abrupt change in work and demand. The article does not provide figures for canceled flights, affected travelers, or financial losses.

The planned reopening marked a return to service, but it did not erase the security concern. The airport assigned separate terminals for domestic and international operations. Because Houthi strikes were continuing, the broader conflict remained relevant to how safely and fully flights could operate after the two-week shutdown.

The Houthi movement, also called Ansar Allah, is an armed political and religious movement based mainly in northern Yemen. It emerged from Yemen’s Zaydi Shia community and became a major force during Yemen’s civil conflict. This background is established world knowledge; the source article only identifies the Houthis as Yemen’s attackers.

The movement has controlled large areas of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, and has fought the internationally recognized Yemeni government and a Saudi-led coalition. Houthi forces have also launched missiles and drones toward Saudi Arabia and other regional targets. Those capabilities can threaten airports, air routes, and other infrastructure.

In this article, the Houthis matter because their deadly attacks were followed by Riyadh airport’s two-week closure. The article also says they kept up strikes on Saudi Arabia. It does not explain the movement’s leadership, exact territory, weapons, or political demands, so those details are not part of the source’s account.

Attacks near an airport can create immediate risks for aircraft, passengers, workers, and airport systems. Missiles or drones may threaten flight paths, runways, terminals, fuel supplies, or navigation equipment. Even without a direct hit, authorities may pause flights when they cannot reliably protect people or aircraft. The article links Riyadh’s closure to deadly Houthi attacks.

Airport operators and national authorities typically respond by monitoring threats, coordinating with security and military agencies, and deciding whether arrivals and departures can continue safely. They may close runways, restrict airspace, divert aircraft, or separate domestic and international services. These measures reduce exposure while officials inspect facilities and reassess the threat.

The source does not describe the precise attack, the security decision, or the restrictions used during the closure. It does state that Houthi strikes continued against Saudi Arabia. That continuing threat helps explain why reopening required an organized plan, including separate terminals for domestic and international flights.

Closing a major international airport for two weeks interrupts a transport network that links travelers, airlines, cargo companies, hotels, and businesses. Passengers may face cancellations, refunds, rerouting, missed connections, and extra costs. Airlines lose flight revenue and must reposition aircraft and crews. The airport’s closure can also delay time-sensitive trade and reduce tourism and business travel.

The effects spread through connected sectors. Importers and exporters may wait for air cargo or use slower, more expensive routes. Hotels, restaurants, taxis, retailers, and freight firms can lose customers. Workers may see fewer shifts, while companies postpone meetings or deliveries. These are general consequences of airport closures; the article does not provide figures for Riyadh’s passengers, cargo, cancellations, or economic losses.

The planned reopening on October 25 offered a path back toward normal operations. Terminal 1 was assigned to domestic flights, and Terminal 2 to international flights operated by national carriers. Because Houthi strikes continued, airlines and authorities still had to consider security when restoring service.

Commercial airports manage conflict-related risk through several connected systems. Air-traffic controllers coordinate aircraft movements and can close routes or airspace. Security teams screen passengers, baggage, vehicles, and restricted areas. Airport authorities also monitor threats, inspect runways and equipment, and coordinate with national security and aviation agencies. These steps protect people while keeping essential services moving when possible.

Terminal separation helps control passenger flows and operating responsibilities. Domestic and international travelers can use different check-in, screening, immigration, and boarding areas. Airports may also assign airlines to specific terminals, limit access, schedule fewer movements, or divert aircraft. Riyadh’s plan reflects this principle: Terminal 1 was for domestic flights, while Terminal 2 was for international flights operated by national carriers.

The article does not describe Riyadh’s security procedures or air-traffic restrictions in detail. It does show that the airport planned a structured reopening after a two-week closure linked to Houthi attacks. Since strikes continued, authorities would need to keep reviewing threats and adjust operations if conditions changed.