Airlines Suspend Saudi Flights Amid Escalating Houthi Attacks
Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways suspended flights to Saudi Arabia following escalating Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Riyadh airport and other regional destinations.
Following weekend strikes that left 13 people dead and over 300 injured, alongside a subsequent attack on Sunday that killed one and wounded nearly a dozen, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways announced the suspension of flights to Saudi Arabia. The decisions come amid a surge in Houthi attacks targeting the kingdom and repeated strikes on the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
Etihad stated that all flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh are canceled until October 19, while Qatar Airways did not specify a resumption date for its suspended services. Etihad also confirmed the cancellation of routes connecting Abu Dhabi to Jeddah and Dammam due to regional disruptions, noting that the October 19 deadline applies exclusively to the Riyadh route.
Saudi authorities have extended the closure of the Riyadh airport until October 17 while simultaneously investigating air defense failures. According to AP reports citing regional sources, Saudi Arabia launched an inquiry into how Houthi missiles and drones breached defense systems after an initial wave of drones was followed by cruise and ballistic missiles.