Third of Saudi Flights Canceled As High Profile Events Postponed
More than 34% of flights from Saudi Arabia were canceled on Monday following regional attacks, forcing the postponement of major events.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Cirium data showed 322 of 941 scheduled flights from Saudi Arabia were canceled on Monday.
- King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh reopened following a week-long shutdown.
- International carriers extended flight suspensions to Saudi destinations through October 24.
- High-profile events including the Future Investment Initiative were postponed.
Saudi Arabia's tourism sector and events industry are facing mounting pressure as ongoing security concerns and Houthi rebel attacks disrupt international aviation networks. The disruptions threaten to turn Riyadh's events-led fourth quarter into a lost period for hotels and business tourism.
According to aviation analytics company Cirium, more than a third of all scheduled flights from the kingdom—around 322 out of 941 flights—were canceled or failed to operate on Monday. This marked a slight recovery from Sunday, when over half of all scheduled flights across Saudi Arabia were grounded.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh reopened on Sunday after being shut down for a full week following an October 10 attack that killed 12 people and injured numerous others. While local carriers such as Saudia, Flynas, Riyadh Air, and Flyadeal resumed operations at the hub, the majority of regional and international airlines kept their suspensions in place.
Cirium data detailed the cancellation rates across various Saudi airports on Monday:
- King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh: Recorded the highest cancellation rate at 66%.
- Abha Regional Airport: Recorded 48% cancellations.
- Dammam King Fahd International Airport: Recorded 31% cancellations.
- Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport: Recorded 15% cancellations.
International carriers including flydubai, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways extended their flight suspensions to Riyadh, Dammam, and Abha through October 24. Qatar Airways also reduced its daily flights to Jeddah from seven down to four. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy issued an official security alert warning of potential missile and drone attacks alongside airport disruptions.
"If non-Saudi airlines stay away, Saudi and Gulf carriers will expand to fill the space, but the question is whether demand holds as attacks continue."
Andrew Charlton, Aviation Advocacy
The aviation crisis highlights the vulnerability of Saudi Arabia's long-term strategy to establish Riyadh as a premier global business and MICE destination. As foreign airlines hesitate to return, hotels and local tourism operators face significant financial losses during what is typically peak season. The ongoing suspensions test whether national carriers like Riyadh Air can independently sustain the international connectivity required for the kingdom's ambitious economic growth plans.
The disruptions have directly impacted the kingdom's high-profile events calendar. The Future Investment Initiative has been postponed to next year, the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council summit scheduled for October 24 in Riyadh was postponed indefinitely, and the Six Kings Slam tennis tournament was pushed back to December, resulting in widespread hotel cancellations and lost tourism spending.
Source: Skift
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