Major international airlines have suspended flights to Saudi Arabia following escalating Houthi attacks and threats against airports across the kingdom, leaving passengers facing cancellations, delays and diversions.
The disruption follows a series of attacks on Riyadh's main airport over the weekend that killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300, forcing authorities to temporarily close King Khalid International Airport.
The Houthis have warned that Saudi airports remain potential targets, raising concerns about further disruption to international air travel.
Some airlines have suspended services until mid-October, while others have extended cancellations until the end of the month.
Here's what to know about the flight cancellations, affected airports and travel warnings.
Which airlines have suspended flights to Saudi Arabia?
Several major international airlines have suspended flights to Riyadh, while others have cancelled selected services to Jeddah and Dammam.
According to Reuters, Lufthansa Group has suspended flights to Riyadh until 16 October, while Air France-KLM has halted services to the Saudi capital until the end of the month.
Other airlines have announced the following cancellations:
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Flydubai: All flights to and from Riyadh cancelled through 14 October.
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Air India: Riyadh services suspended until 15 October.
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Air India Express: Riyadh flights suspended until 14 October.
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SriLankan Airlines: Riyadh services suspended until 18 October.
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Etihad Airways: Selected flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam cancelled between 11 and 13 October.
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Emirates: Flights between Dubai and Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam affected by cancellations on Monday, 12 October.
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Air Arabia: Cancellations and schedule changes affecting Saudi routes.
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Qatar Airways and Kuwait Airways: Riyadh flights cancelled.
The cancellations do not amount to a complete suspension of international flights to Saudi Arabia, with several airports continuing to operate despite significant disruption.
Are Saudi Arabia's airports still open?
Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport has been the worst affected following the weekend's deadly attacks.
Saudi authorities extended a notice to air missions (NOTAM) closing the airport until midnight local time on Monday, 12 October.
Flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 ranked Riyadh's airport as the world's most disrupted airport on Monday.
Elsewhere, airports remain operational but are experiencing delays and cancellations.
Jeddah: King Abdulaziz International Airport remains open, although flights have faced significant disruption. Flightradar24 ranked it the world's second-most disrupted airport on Monday, after Riyadh.
Dammam: King Fahd International Airport is continuing operations despite delays. It has also received flights diverted from Riyadh.
Medina: Air traffic was continuing around Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport on Monday, according to live flight-tracking data.
Despite the disruption, aircraft are continuing to use Saudi airspace, according to flight-tracking data collected on Monday.
Why are Saudi airports being targeted?
The flight cancellations follow an escalation in attacks by Yemen's Houthis against Saudi Arabia, including the deadly strikes on Riyadh's airport over the weekend.
On Sunday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree renewed the group's warning against using Saudi airports, describing them as "potential targets and sites for operations by our forces".
He urged airlines, airport employees and passengers to take the warning seriously.
The Houthis have, however, said that the holy cities of Mecca and Medina are exempt from their threats.
The warnings have raised concerns about the safety of civilian aviation and the possibility of further disruption if attacks continue.
🚨 Indian man killed in missile strike on Riyadh airport, his two sons hospitalised Hyderabad resident Mohammad Yousuf Ali who was travelling to Medina for Umrah has succumbed to his injuries The death toll has risen to 13, with over 300 injured in Riyadh airport strike Chilling CCTV footage shows pilgrims and travellers scrambling for safety as a missile strikes the airport
— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) October 12, 2026
Which countries have issued travel warnings for Saudi Arabia?
Several countries have updated their travel advice amid the escalating attacks, warning citizens about security risks and disruption to flights.
Australia and New Zealand issued warnings on Monday urging travellers to avoid Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and reconsider travel through other Saudi airports.
The warnings follow similar advisories from the UK, US, Canada, Japan and South Korea.
The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against all but essential travel to several parts of Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Aseer, Najran and Jizan provinces.
On Sunday, it added Jeddah and Dammam to the areas covered by that advice.
British authorities also advise against all travel within 10 kilometres of the border with Yemen.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Riyadh has advised American citizens to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia as a whole, citing threats linked to the Houthis and continuing security concerns surrounding the US-Israeli war with Iran.
