Etihad and flydubai cancel Saudi Arabia flights after deadly Houthi attacks disrupt Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport

Etihad Airways and flydubai have cancelled multiple flights to Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed three Saudi citizens, damaged airport facilities and a Saudia aircraft, and triggered widespread disruption to air travel. Etihad cancelled eight services between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh on October 9 and 10, while flydubai suspended flights to Riyadh and Yanbu through October 10 and to Abha through October 11 as airlines across the region continue adjusting schedules.

Etihad said six Abu Dhabi-Riyadh services were cancelled on Friday and another two on Saturday because of operational disruption at King Khalid International Airport. The airline described the situation as “dynamic” and warned that further schedule changes were possible.

Flydubai said it was closely monitoring developments in coordination with the relevant authorities. Its cancellations extend beyond Riyadh, with services to the Red Sea city of Yanbu suspended through Saturday and flights to Abha, another Saudi airport targeted during the recent escalation, cancelled through Sunday.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said two attacks on King Khalid International Airport on October 8 killed three Saudi citizens and injured several other people of different nationalities. The first attack targeted airport facilities and the second struck a parked Saudia aircraft, causing material damage. Authorities later said airport operations had resumed and air traffic had returned to normal.

The latest cancellations add Etihad and flydubai to a growing list of international carriers that have altered Saudi services since Houthi attacks intensified. Lufthansa Group has suspended Riyadh flights through October 16, while Air India and several other Asian carriers have also temporarily halted or reduced services to the Saudi capital amid security concerns.