Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority has extended the suspension of operations at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, Saudi Gazette reported on October 12.
King Khalid is the main gateway to a market that drew 123mn tourists in 2025 as Vision 2030 entered its final phase, Emerging Travel reported. With the capital’s main airport shut since October 10, inbound and connecting traffic has been diverted or cancelled, and the authority has not said when carriers can return.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said the extension is needed to verify the safety of airport facilities and ensure their operational readiness. It said an attack on October 10 killed 12 people and injured 309, and a second on October 11 killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11. The Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen attributed the attacks to the Houthis and said a projectile struck Terminal 4.
Air India, flydubai, Lufthansa Group and Pakistan International Airlines have suspended flights to Saudi airports for varying periods, ABC reported. The US, Britain, Germany, Australia and Canada have warned citizens to avoid the airport.
GACA also confirmed a strike on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, according to CBS News.
GACA did not say when operations at King Khalid would resume.