Missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthis movement off the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, 8 Oct, caused almost half the flights to be cancelled or not fly. The disruption caused impacted domestic and international flights and caused passengers to be unable to travel tickets to be cancelled or delayed or even have their travel plans changed.
The aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that 44.7% of all scheduled flights from Riyadh were cancelled or not operating, with 169 out of the total 378 flights scheduled to take off at the airport in the last 72 hours canceled. Arrivals were also impacted with 124/369 flights called off or not flying.
The interruption was as a result of the Saudi airports being attacked, prompting airlines to review their operations. Several international airlines announced temporary flight cancellations and passengers were urged to check with their airlines before flying.
Houthi Attacks Disrupt Flights at Riyadh Airport
The Houthis group of Yemen has blamed its rivals, the Saudis, for attacking their home base, the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. These incidents happened as part of a broader escalation in Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector.
Saudi authorities earlier in the week reported that three people were killed and 36 injured after being attacked at the Riyadh and Abha airports. The new developments added to the worries about the operations of the airport and the safety of its passengers.
The smoke was reported at the Riyadh airport on Thursday after a Saudia commercial aircraft was reportedly damaged while it was parked at the airport. A person, who was not authorized to comment, told Reuters the plane was on fire, but did not give details about the damage.
The Houthis then made additional claims of attacks on airports in Riyadh and Najran with missiles.The Houthis then made additional claims of attacks on airports in Riyadh and Najran with missiles. Saudi authorities have yet to confirm all the group’s claims. The turmoil continued as airlines took stock of security threats and made changes to their travel plans.
Airlines Suspend Flights to Riyadh
Several other airlines announced temporary suspension of operations to Riyadh due to the attacks and on-going security concerns.
Lufthansa Group announced its flights to Riyadh would be suspended till October 16. Air India and Akasa Air have halted flights to and from Saudi capital Riyadh till October 10, meanwhile, IndiGo has cancelled flights to Riyadh till October 9, reports said on October 8. The dates were based on the airlines’ then-announcement, and were subject to change as conditions changed.
A helpless Air India also reported that a flight from the Delhi to Riyadh had come back to Delhi and was then cancelled. The move was made for the safety of its passengers, the airline said.
Other regional and international airlines cancelled and/or delayed flights to and from the country. Disruption was different for each airline and route; for example, passengers might be offered different arrangements even on the same day.
Impact on Passengers Travelling Between the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Other Destinations
The cancellations at Riyadh airport have significance for travellers wishing to travel through the country, such as those between the Gulf countries, South Asia and elsewhere.
Dubai or Abu Dhabi en route to Riyadh should not think that their flights are running normally. Services may be suspended or postponed or rescheduled as determined by airline decisions and in response to the security situation.
For travellers with a connecting flight, check with the airline to find out if the flight change will impact the remainder of the journey. If the passengers made the booking with an agent, they can contact their agent for a rebooking.
This has other effects, not just in Riyadh. Attacks and security worries have impacted operations at other Saudi airports, such as Abha. Changes in airline timetables may result in additional changes in flights both domestic and international.
What Should Passengers Do Before Travelling?
If the flights from, or to, Riyadh are still happening, then there are a handful of things to keep in mind.
Always see if your flights are on-time before you leave home. To know if your flight is running, delayed or cancelled, please visit your airlines official website or app. For instructions for specific flights, contact the airline; other airport information and flight-tracking services may be available to help keep you informed.
If you are affected by the cancellation of your flight, please call your airline. Request to rebook, refunds or other lines available per airline policy. Don’t buy another ticket until you have an understanding of your ticket options.
Provide flexibility of connecting flights. If you’re travelling multiple stops, verify each flight in your itinerary if you are travelling from Riyadh. If the flight is for a different destination, that doesn’t necessarily mean that an onward connection will stay open.
Heed official travel and safety suggestions. Keep a check on the information provided by the Saudi authorities, your airline and the embassy/consulate of your country. Don’t go to the airport without confirming the time of your flight.
King Khalid International Airport has also advised travellers to double check their flight details with their respective airline due to the possibility of flights being delayed or rescheduled and cancelled.
What Happens Next?
The extent of the disruption will be determined by the level of security and additional closure and airline/aviation authority decisions. Suspensions can be extended or shortened as deemed necessary by the carriers based on their operational risks analysis.
For passengers, the safety of the flight can only be taken on the basis of the latest announcements by the airlines, and cannot be based on previously published suspension dates. Flight schedules may change rapidly as air travel will be disrupted during incidents of security concern and it is important to have the most up to date information when planning travel.
The primary concern for travellers with future flights is to check on flight status, what options are available for future rebooking and what safety measures are to be taken as per the instructions of the authorities.
Disclaimer: Information is based on available news reports and may change as new updates emerge. Please check official sources for the latest information.
