Riyadh Airport Reopens Amid Houthi Threats

Yemen’s Houthi movement renewed its warning on Oct 25 against using King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, declaring the airport a “military target” and saying operations against it would continue. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned airlines, airport staff and travellers not to use the facility. The statement came hours after the airport announced a limited resumption of services: from Oct 25, Terminal 1 would handle domestic flights and Terminal 2 international flights operated by Saudi national carriers. The airport had suspended operations on Oct 10 after an attack claimed by the Houthis killed 13 people and injured more than 300. The article describes it as the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade. The suspension was extended two days after it began. The report places the threat amid a wider escalation in the Yemen conflict. The Houthis have used ballistic missiles and drones to target Saudi airports, ports and oil installations, putting pressure on Saudi Arabia, a US ally. Saudi Arabia has recently increased its military involvement in Yemen, conducting strikes against the Houthis and supporting a government counteroffensive. This followed the Houthis’ seizure in September of strategic territory along the Red Sea coast. The article reports the warning, airport plans and conflict background without offering further details about the airport’s security arrangements or the prospects for reopening.

The article provides an airline-by-airline update on flight disruptions affecting Saudi Arabia amid regional tensions and attacks by Yemen’s Houthis. Although Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport partially reopened on October 25, with Terminal 1 handling domestic flights and Terminal 2 international flights, international services remained disrupted. The article outlines current suspensions and announced resumption dates for routes serving Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Abha, Taif and Madinah. Etihad extended cancellations between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah until November 5. Emirates planned to resume Dubai–Jeddah flights on October 30 and services to Riyadh and Dammam on November 8, while continuing flights to Madinah. flydubai cancelled service to Riyadh, Dammam and Abha through October 29, with scheduled resumptions from October 30. Air Arabia had cancelled Sharjah flights to several Saudi cities without announcing a return date. Qatar Airways temporarily halted Riyadh and Dammam flights through October 24 and reduced Jeddah service from seven daily flights to four. Other carriers reported differing timelines. Oman Air and SalamAir suspended Riyadh service through October 31, with SalamAir also cancelling Dammam flights. British Airways was due to return to Riyadh on November 3 with one daily flight. Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo had suspensions listed through October 24; Akasa Air’s Riyadh suspension also ran through that date, while its Jeddah suspension ran through October 21. Cathay Pacific extended its Riyadh suspension to January 31, 2027, and Delta postponed its Atlanta–Riyadh launch until March 2027. Lufthansa suspended Riyadh flights through November 18 and Dammam flights through November 30; KLM extended Riyadh and Dammam cancellations through October 31. Philippine Airlines suspended Riyadh flights through November 29, and Scoot cancelled Singapore–Jeddah flights through December 2. The article also notes that Gulf Air’s post-October 18 flights were proceeding as scheduled, Malaysia Airlines had resumed Jeddah and Madinah flights, and Pakistan International Airlines had not set a restart date for Riyadh.

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh resumed flight operations on Sunday, October 25, 2026, with separate terminals assigned for domestic and international services operated by Saudi national carriers. The airport administration said Terminal 1 would handle domestic flights and Terminal 2 international flights, and advised passengers to verify their bookings and flight status with their airlines before travelling. Hours after the reopening announcement, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree renewed the group’s warning against using the airport, describing it as a military target and saying it would “never be safe.” He warned airlines, airport employees and travellers that Houthi operations against the facility would continue, and said Saudi Arabia would bear the consequences of operating it. The article places the threat in the context of earlier Houthi claims of attacks on Saudi infrastructure. Saree said the group had targeted King Khalid International Airport, Aramco facilities in Yanbu, the Rabigh refinery and the East-West oil pipeline. He also claimed attacks on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Najran Airport and Khamis Mushait Airbase, as well as locations in Riyadh and other areas. These are presented as Houthi claims, not independently confirmed findings. The security situation has also affected air travel. Air India and Air India Express suspended flights to and from several Saudi destinations: Riyadh and Dammam services through November 7, and Jeddah services through October 31. The airlines offered affected passengers complimentary rebooking or full refunds. Overall, the article reports the airport’s resumption of operations alongside renewed Houthi threats and resulting airline disruptions.

The supplied page is a live-news landing page titled “Middle East latest: Saudi-led coalition downs Houthi missile launched towards Riyadh.” It reports in its headline that the Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Houthi missile launched towards Riyadh. The page’s brief update list also includes a report that Riyadh airport is due to reopen two terminals from Sunday after Houthi attacks, and a coalition statement that it destroyed Houthi ballistic missiles fired towards Yanbu and Taif. Another listed update says Turkey ruled out combat with the Houthis under a defence pact. These items suggest the live coverage concerns Houthi attacks, Saudi air defences and regional responses, but the supplied text provides no supporting details, quotes, casualty figures, or fuller account of the events. The page also displays other headlines, including items about Donald Trump’s remarks on a possible attack on Iran or a deal, Saudi forces targeting vessels carrying Houthi weapons, and regional leaders’ responses. These appear as related or rolling news links rather than developed sections of the article. The page is marked as updated on October 25, 2026, at 5:10 AM. Because the provided content consists mainly of navigation, sharing and printing controls, promotional video titles, and a handful of headlines, it does not include the body of the live article. Consequently, it is not possible to establish the circumstances of the missile interception, the coalition’s precise account, or the broader context from this text alone. This summary reflects only the claims and information visible in the supplied page extract and does not treat the related headlines as confirmed details of the main report.