Eigen RadarGeopolitics
Archive
Analysis

Riyadh airport reopens after a new attack; hundreds of flights disrupted

Riyadh’s King Khalid airport reopened after a new attack on 8 October that Saudi aviation authorities said killed three citizens and damaged a Saudia aircraft. Flight data show 293 of 747 scheduled arrivals and departures were cancelled or did not operate that day. The Houthis claimed responsibility, but their account of the strike remains independently unverified.

Geopolitics··Evening
A white passenger jet, baggage cart and passenger stairs stand on a broad airport apron in Riyadh.

New Riyadh attack kills three, Saudi authorities say

Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport reopened after an attack on 8 October disrupted operations. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said the attack targeted airport facilities and an aircraft belonging to state carrier Saudia. Separately, flight data showed widespread cancellations and flights that did not operate at the capital’s airport that day. The authority announced on 9 October that airport operations had returned to normal.[1], [2]

The aviation authority said three Saudi citizens died and citizens and residents of different nationalities were injured. Injuries ranged from minor to serious, and material damage occurred. Saudia announced the death of Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami and said one of its aircraft had been damaged. The authority did not identify who was responsible. These deaths concern a new attack, separate from the casualties reported earlier in the week at Riyadh and Abha airports.[1]

Disruption affects 293 of 747 scheduled flights

Cirium flight data showed that 169 of 378 scheduled departures from Riyadh on 8 October were cancelled or did not operate, a rate of 44.71 per cent. Among arrivals, 124 of 369 were affected, or 33.60 per cent. Across both directions, 293 of 747 flights were disrupted, approximately 39 per cent. The figures count flights, rather than passengers, and do not establish how long the airport remained closed throughout the day.[2]

Saudia had the largest affected schedule by volume: 97 of 140 departures and 87 of 136 arrivals were cancelled or did not operate. Flynas had 30 of 91 departures affected, while flyadeal had 20 of 54. All four Turkish Airlines departures and all four arrivals were cancelled. Air India and Air India Express suspended Riyadh services until 10 October, while other international carriers recorded partial cancellations.[2], [1]

Houthi responsibility claim remains unverified

The Houthis, the armed movement fighting Yemen’s internationally recognised government, claimed they fired a ballistic missile at King Khalid airport on Thursday. Their claims that the missile hit its target and disrupted air traffic have not been independently verified. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted two ballistic missiles heading towards Riyadh and one towards Khamis Mushait. Those remain military claims, as Yemen’s government forces continued their counteroffensive against the Houthis.[1]

References

  1. News sourceAl JazeeraRiyadh airport reopens as officials report three deaths in latest attack↩1↩2↩3↩4
  2. News sourceKhaleej TimesRiyadh disruption affects 39 percent of October 8 flights↩1↩2↩3
Chip wars and the supply chainRussia-Ukraine warMiddle East balance of power

More analysis from this desk

View all Brief analyses from the Geopolitics desk →