Airlines are suspending flights to Saudi Arabia’s capital after a fresh Houthi missile attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH) on Thursday, left a Saudia aircraft badly damaged by fire. The Iran-backed group claimed responsibility for targeting the airport with a ballistic missile, although Saudi authorities have not confirmed that its projectile directly struck the aircraft. Several international airlines have halted operations amid mounting security concerns.

The disruption has been substantial. Aviation analytics firm Cirium recorded 293 canceled or nonoperating flights at Riyadh on Thursday, representing approximately 39% of scheduled arrivals and departures. The escalating violence also raises questions about Delta Air Lines’ planned October 23 launch of nonstop flights from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), while Riyadh Air faces particular challenges to its rapidly expanding network.

Houthi Attack Leaves Saudia Aircraft Badly Damaged

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The commercial aircraft belonging to Saudia caught fire while parked at a terminal at RUH after it was struck, according to Reuters. Three people briefed on the incident told Reuters the aircraft suffered extensive damage, possibly from debris from a failed missile interception or a direct projectile strike.

The aircraft was reportedly an Airbus A320, although its registration has not been independently verified, but early video footage appears to confirm the plane type. Saudia operates a total of 37 Airbus A320-200s with an average age of 10.2 years. The aircraft was believed to be empty of passengers, but initial reports could not rule out injuries from the explosion or the subsequent fire.

The latest incident follows deadly attacks on Riyadh and Abha airports earlier this week, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) reported that three foreign nationals were killed, and 36 people injured in the attacks. The Houthis have threatened further strikes on Saudi aviation infrastructure, warning international airlines against using much of the kingdom’s airspace. The renewed fighting follows the collapse of a fragile truce in Yemen, and an escalation of Saudi-backed military operations against Houthi forces.

The attack is particularly concerning because it follows a separate September 19 missile incident near Riyadh airport, when fuel storage facilities were hit and a large fire developed. The recurrence of attacks on infrastructure linked to a major international airport creates a safety challenge that extends beyond the immediate disruption. The central concern now is no longer whether Riyadh airport can reopen after an attack, but whether commercial airlines can continue to operate reliably while missiles threaten civilian aviation infrastructure and aircraft.

Over 450 Riyadh Flights Disrupted As Airlines Suspend Services

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Flight disruption at RUH intensified after Thursday’s missile attack. FlightAware reported more than 450 canceled or delayed flights, while the airport had accumulated as many as 116 canceled departures and 164 canceled arrivals, representing more than a third of all flights being canceled.

According to The National, Saudi carriers bore the brunt of much of the disruption. National carrier Saudia canceled 162 scheduled flights and delayed another 108, representing more than three-quarters of its operations. Low-cost airline flyadeal recorded 39 cancellations and 53 delays, while flynas had 37 cancellations and 86 delays. Riyadh Air, with fewer flights, experienced the least disruption, with 11 cancellations and six delays.

International carriers also moved to suspend flights. Lufthansa Group halted all Riyadh services through October 16, while Air India and Akasa Air canceled flights through October 10, and IndiGo suspended operations through October 9. An Air India service was forced to return to Delhi, while other operators experienced individual cancellations. Responses have varied considerably, however, with the Gulf airlines continuing their schedules at the time of writing, despite the escalating security situation.

Longer-term disruption had already complicated the market: Cathay Pacific extended its Riyadh suspension into 2027, and Singapore Airlines postponed its planned return until March 28. These decisions demonstrate how prolonged instability could affect international connectivity well beyond the immediate aftermath of an attack.

Delta & Riyadh Air Face Expansion Uncertainty

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The timing is particularly problematic for Delta, which plans to inaugurate nonstop Atlanta–Riyadh flights in just over two weeks on October 23. The service will use an A350-900, operating daily through October 30, before reducing to three weekly flights. It represents Delta’s first scheduled service to Saudi Arabia, and the first nonstop connection between the United States and Riyadh operated by an American airline. The route is also strategically linked to Delta’s partnership with Riyadh Air, which is intended to develop connectivity between North America and Saudi Arabia.

However, there were already signs that Delta’s ambitious new route could face commercial challenges. In July, Delta President Peter Carter acknowledged that advance bookings were “softer than anticipated,” while independent examinations of airline seat maps suggested extremely limited early reservations on some departures. These figures are not definitive booking totals, but they underline the difficulty of launching a new long-haul route amid regional instability. Delta has not announced a postponement following Thursday’s attack, although the latest developments will inevitably complicate its assessment of operational safety and commercial demand.

Meanwhile, Riyadh Air is also experiencing its first major operational challenge as it rapidly builds out its network. The carrier now has 15 routes for sale, following the first launch of scheduled Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner operations in June. But every one of its flights touches Riyadh, and continued attacks on its home airport will severely undermine its reliability and credibility. While the airline has deep pockets and can ride out instability longer than most, the bigger concern is the ongoing damage to Riyadh’s reputation as an emerging connecting hub, as well as to Saudi Arabia’s broader ambitions under Vision 2030 .