- Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport continues to show scheduled flights despite an announced shutdown
- Flight tracking data recorded 212 cancelled departures on 14 October
- The cancellation rate reached around 61pc
- Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation issued a Notice to Airmen closing the airport until 17 October
- Major international carriers have suspended services to the capital
Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport continues to show scheduled flights on departure boards despite an announced shutdown by local authorities lasting until at least 17 October. Flight tracking data recorded 212 cancelled departures on 14 October equating to a cancellation rate of around 61pc.
Domestic services to Dammam and Jeddah remained listed alongside limited international flights to destinations including Cairo Doha Dubai and Istanbul. The discrepancy stems from a lag between pre-published flight schedules and actual real-time operational status. Standard flight schedules continue to feed into public departure listings despite the formal shutdown.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation issued a Notice to Airmen formally closing the airport until 21:00 UTC on 17 October. The closure was enacted to conduct structural safety inspections following missile and drone strikes. Major international carriers including Emirates Etihad Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian have suspended services to the capital.
