Saudi Arabia has extended the closure of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport following deadly weekend attacks. The strikes killed 13 people on Saturday and injured more than 300, according to the report. Another attack on Sunday killed a Pakistani national and injured nearly a dozen others.
The Saudi civil aviation authority said operations would remain suspended while officials completed safety checks. Authorities are working to ensure airport facilities meet safety and operational readiness requirements. The airport has remained closed since Saturday’s attack.
Read more: New attack hits Riyadh airport, says Saudi coalition
The attacks were attributed to Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement in the report. King Khalid International Airport is Saudi Arabia’s second-busiest airport after Jeddah. The incidents caused major disruption to aviation services across the kingdom.
Flight cancellations reached 99.7 per cent of scheduled services at Riyadh airport on Sunday, aviation analytics firm Cirium reported. Flightradar24’s air traffic tracker showed no aircraft flying over the city. The disruption has affected airlines operating routes between Saudi Arabia and other regions.
Several international carriers have suspended or reduced services to Saudi destinations. Lufthansa Group cancelled all flights to Riyadh until October 16. Air France-KLM extended its suspension of flights to and from the capital until the end of October.
Read more: Houthi airport strike in Riyadh kills Pakistani national, injures 11 others
Etihad Airways also extended cancellations, affecting around 20 flights to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam on Monday and Tuesday. Meanwhile, the US Federal Aviation Administration advised American carriers to exercise caution when flying to or over Saudi Arabia. The restrictions reflect wider concerns about regional security.
The attacks have also raised questions about the economic impact and major events planned in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product is projected to contract by 3.6 per cent this year, partly due to lower oil activity. The kingdom’s investment conference and WPC Energy Congress face added pressure, with several senior oil executives removed from the congress programme.