Saudi airport reopens with limited flights after Houthi attacks

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 14:02 · Archive

Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport has reopened with limited flights after Houthi strikes forced its closure on 10 October.

Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport reopened for limited operations on Wednesday, two days after Saudi authorities notified airlines they could resume with prior permission. Only Saudi carriers Saudia and FlyNas were operating flights, according to flight-tracking data.

The airport was shut down on 10 October after being hit multiple times by Yemen's Houthi rebels this month. The Houthis have acknowledged attacking the facility, claiming without evidence that Saudi Arabia provided military equipment to government forces through the airport.

Major international carriers, including Lufthansa and Air France, have cancelled flights through mid-November. The reduction in air traffic could signal longer-term economic consequences for Saudi Arabia, extending beyond the immediate damage caused by the strikes.

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization reported that an unknown projectile ignited a fire aboard a tanker in the Persian Gulf off Oman on Wednesday, 11 nautical miles west of the coastal town of Bukha. The fire was extinguished and the crew remained safe.

How it is being reported

• Saudi capital's airport opens to limited traffic, and other Mideast newsThere were only a few flights by Saudi carriers from the Saudi capital's airport on Wednesday, even as Saudi authorities declared it's open for business.Clickorlando · 21 Oct, 13:22
• Saudi capital's airport opens to limited traffic, and other Mideast newsThere were only a few flights by Saudi carriers from the Saudi capital's airport on Wednesday, even as Saudi authorities declared it's open for business.News4Jax · 21 Oct, 13:22

In this story: Saudi Arabia · Riyadh · Yemen · Houthis · Oman · Lufthansa · Air France

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