Riyadh airport hit by Houthi attacks as airlines relocate aircraft
Since 8 Oct 2026 · Checked 18 Oct 2026, 17:00 UTC
Deadly Houthi attacks have made King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh unsafe for parking aircraft, and Saudi airlines are moving fleets out. Flightradar24 data cited by the Wall Street Journal shows aircraft on the ground at the airport fell from 134 on 8 October to 38 by midday on 14 October. Operations at the airport and the airlines affected have not been fully detailed.
What travellers should do
Check your flight status with your airline before travelling to or through Riyadh, and allow for possible schedule changes. Follow your government's travel advice for Saudi Arabia.
Your rights if your flight is affected
- Cancelled flight: you can usually choose a full refund or a new flight, even when the cancellation isn't the airline's fault. Ask for a refund to your original payment, not just a voucher.
- Flights departing the EU or UK, or flown by an EU or UK airline into them: on top of a refund you may be owed €250–€600 (or £220–£520) for a cancellation with less than 14 days' notice, or a delay of 3 hours or more on arrival.
- No compensation is due for extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather, security threats, airport or airspace closures and air traffic control strikes. Strikes by the airline's own staff usually do count.
- While you wait, airlines covered by EU and UK rules must provide meals and, if needed, a hotel. Keep receipts for anything you pay yourself.
Airports affected
Sources: Saudi Airlines Race To Evacuate $4 Billion In Aircraft From Riyadh After Deadly Houthi Attacks
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