Riyadh Airport Closure Extended to October 17 After Houthi Attacks

Riyadh, MINA – Saudi Arabia has extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh until October 17 following a series of attacks attributed to Yemen’s Houthi group, disrupting international flights and prompting a travel advisory for Indonesian citizens.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) extended the suspension through a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued on Monday, Arab News reported. The notice states that the closure will remain in effect until 21:00 GMT on October 17, equivalent to midnight local time.

GACA said the measure was intended to ensure the safety and operational readiness of airport facilities. However, the notice does not guarantee that the airport will reopen on that date.

The Houthis have said their attacks on Saudi Arabia are linked to Riyadh’s support for Yemeni government forces in the civil war and its blockade of ports and airports in areas under Houthi control in northwestern Yemen.

The group previously cited 60 Saudi airstrikes and missile attacks on Sanaa and several other Yemeni provinces within 24 hours as the trigger for its retaliatory operations on October 6.

The deadliest reported attack occurred on Saturday (October 10), when GACA recorded at least 12 people killed and 309 others injured. The incident followed a series of attacks earlier in the week, including two strikes on Thursday (October 8) that killed three Saudi citizens.

The attacks have severely disrupted air travel through Riyadh. Aviation analytics firm Cirium recorded that 99.7 percent of scheduled flights at King Khalid International Airport were canceled on Sunday.

Several international airlines have also suspended services. Lufthansa Group canceled all flights to Riyadh through October 16, while Air France-KLM extended its suspension until the end of October. Etihad Airways canceled all flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh through October 19.

The Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh has urged Indonesian citizens to stay away from the airport and surrounding areas and to avoid non-essential travel. Indonesians planning to fly have also been advised to check their flight status directly with their airlines before leaving for the airport.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously condemned attacks targeting civilians and called on all parties to exercise restraint and pursue dialogue.

The latest escalation comes amid Yemen’s prolonged conflict, which intensified after Houthi forces seized the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014. In March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition intervened to restore the internationally recognized government of President Abd Mansour Hadi.

The war has continued for more than a decade, killing over 150,000 people and contributing to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

The Houthis have demanded that restrictions on areas under their control be lifted, arguing that the blockade limits the entry of essential supplies, including food, fuel and medicine. They have also called for an end to Saudi military operations and Riyadh’s support for the Hadi government.

The extension of the airport closure underscores the growing pressure on Saudi Arabia to protect critical infrastructure amid escalating attacks. It has also raised concerns about civilian aviation safety and the wider economic consequences of prolonged disruptions to regional transport and energy supplies.

International efforts have called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations, although prospects for a lasting settlement remain uncertain.

With the Houthis vowing to continue their attacks until their demands are met and Saudi Arabia pledging to respond firmly, the situation remains tense. The continued suspension of airport operations is disrupting international travel, including journeys by Indonesian citizens, while adding to concerns about the broader economic impact of the conflict.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)