King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh will resume flight operations on Sunday, October 25, 2026, after a two-week closure caused by repeated attacks, the airport announced in a passenger advisory issued on Saturday. Terminal 1 will handle domestic flights, while Terminal 2 will serve international flights operated by national carriers.
The airport urged passengers with confirmed bookings to contact their airlines to verify the status of their flights before travelling to the airport.
Fresh strikes on Saturday
The reopening announcement came on the same day Yemen’s Houthi fighters said they had launched fresh attacks on Saudi Arabia. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group targeted three Saudi airports — King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, and Najran Airport — along with energy installations, a pipeline and an air base.
According to Saree, the targets also included Aramco facilities in Yanbu, the Rabigh refinery, the East-West oil pipeline, and the Khamis Mushait air base. The Houthis also said they struck the seat of Yemen’s internationally recognised government in Aden. The group said the attacks followed strikes it blamed on Riyadh that it said killed 17 people.
Dispute over Mecca and Medina
Saudi Arabia’s civil defence agency said it responded to falling debris in the Mecca and Medina regions on Saturday after intercepting two Houthi missiles. It said shrapnel fell in Wadi Mughamas outside Mecca and damaged some buildings.
The Houthis denied targeting Islam’s two holiest cities, calling the Saudi claim ‘a great and huge lie’. The group acknowledged fresh strikes against Saudi targets but said the holy cities were not among them.
Airlines extend suspensions
Despite the airport’s reopening, several airlines have extended their suspensions of services to Saudi Arabia. Air India and Air India Express have suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam until November 7, and to Jeddah until October 31. IndiGo has cancelled services to Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until October 31. Akasa Air has extended its suspension of Riyadh services until November 30 and Jeddah flights until November 10.
The airlines said affected passengers with bookings issued on or before October 24 can choose flexible rebooking or full refunds.
Wider context
Saudi Arabia and the government it backs in Yemen have come under sustained attack in recent weeks from the Houthis, after a years-long truce broke down in the summer. The fighting has shifted the focus of the wider US-Iran war that erupted in February, according to reporting by Reuters.
The airport had been closed following several deadly attacks this month. Its reopening marks a tentative return to normal operations, though the Houthis have renewed warnings to airlines and travellers against using Riyadh airport, calling it a military target.
For now, passengers are advised to check with their airline before heading to the airport, as schedules remain subject to change.