Riyadh Airport Partly Reopens as Houthi Threats Continue

Terminal 1 is handling domestic flights, while Terminal 2 serves international services, as Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport partly reopened on Sunday. The reopening follows a two-week shutdown, but fresh warnings and attacks mean passengers are returning to an airport still under threat. Airport officials asked travellers with bookings to check with their airlines before setting out. ^1,6

The warning matters because the airport was shut after Houthi strikes in October. The attacks killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, according to several reports. On Saturday, airport officials said flights would resume Sunday, with the two terminals given different roles. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile and a drone fired toward the capital early Sunday.^5,10,1 Yemen’s Houthis, an armed group backed by Iran, have been fighting Saudi Arabia and its allies in Yemen. The group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, warned airlines, airport staff and travellers not to use the airport, calling it a military target. ⁴

That warning leaves airlines and passengers weighing a practical need against a stated risk. The airport’s reopening restores some air links to Riyadh, but it does not mean all flights are back or schedules are settled. Some airlines have cancelled routes: Air India and Air India Express suspended Riyadh and Dammam flights through November 7, while Etihad and flydubai also reported cancellations.^15,5 Passengers are being told to confirm flights directly with airlines. The warnings follow reports of explosions in Riyadh and alerts urging residents to seek safety, though Saudi civil defence later said the danger had passed. ^7,11

Those cancellations and warnings leave the next move to airlines. They must decide whether to run scheduled services, while passengers should check their bookings before travelling to the airport. Saudi Arabia says its air defences intercepted the latest incoming weapons; the Houthis say they will keep targeting the facility. For now, the airport is partly open, but flights and travel plans remain subject to change. ^1,4