Riyadh Airport Restarts Flights as Houthi Attacks Continue

On Sunday morning, dozens of flights left Riyadh for cities including London, Dubai and Beijing. King Khalid International Airport had been shut for two weeks after deadly Houthi strikes. The departures marked a return to international travel, even as Saudi Arabia faced fresh attacks. The airport is using only part of its facilities, making this a cautious restart, not a full return to normal. ¹

Two of the airport’s five terminals are now operating. Local carriers Saudia and Flynas, along with some international airlines, including Air India and Emirates, are on the schedule. Terminal 3, damaged in the strikes, remains closed, and most global carriers have yet to resume service. The airport began limited domestic flights last week. On Sunday, Saudi military spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said air defences intercepted a ballistic missile and a drone headed toward the capital. ^1,2

Those limited flights matter beyond the airport gates. The attacks have killed people and damaged Saudi infrastructure, including an airport in the Eastern Province and oil fields run by Saudi Aramco. Travel problems forced consultants and executives to cancel trips. Some visitors drove from nearby Gulf hubs or took a train from Dammam. Riyadh also postponed its Future Investment Initiative, a major annual gathering for finance, energy and political leaders. Continued attacks threaten business and the kingdom’s plans to attract investment and visitors. ¹

The reopening also comes as the United States has ordered diplomatic staff to leave Saudi Arabia because of rising risks. Houthi threats against the airport and energy sites remain active. Saudi authorities issued air-raid alerts for Riyadh, Yanbu, Jeddah and Mecca over the weekend. The immediate test is whether airlines will keep operating as warnings and attacks continue. For now, passengers have limited options, and the damaged terminal remains out of service. ^1,7