IndiGo and Akasa Extend Saudi Flight Cancellations to Oct. 17 as Houthis Fire at Riyadh a Third Straight Day

Since a Houthi strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, Oct. 10, killed 13 people, the attacks have continued for a third straight day, and airlines are now scheduling around a closure that runs through the weekend.

Third day of fire on Riyadh

The Saudi-led coalition said its forces intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis on Monday, Oct. 12. One was aimed at Riyadh and two at Khamis Mushait in the southwest, coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki said in a statement on X.

Residents of Riyadh reported several powerful explosions Monday night, shortly after a text alert on their phones warned of an aerial threat.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group's target in Riyadh was King Khalid International Airport. He also said the group sent a drone toward a military airbase at Khamis Mushait. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed that drone claim.

The toll so far: the Saturday strike killed 13 and wounded more than 300, and Sunday's attack killed one and wounded 11. That makes at least 14 dead. Saudi-led coalition forces said an unidentified projectile hit Terminal 4 on Saturday and started a fire.

What the Houthis say

Saree repeated the group's warning to international airlines and travelers against operating flights to Saudi airports. He said every facility except those in Mecca and Medina is "unsafe."

The Houthis control Yemen's most populous areas, including the capital, Sanaa. They are fighting forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognized government, which the Saudi-led coalition backs with an air campaign. The fighting has flared amid regional tensions set off by the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran.

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, speaking at an energy conference in Riyadh, said the past week's airport attacks have tested the kingdom's resilience.

Closure runs through Saturday

The Saudi civil aviation authority extended the airport's closure to allow "the completion of procedures to ensure the safety and operational readiness of the airport's facilities." A Notice to Airmen shows the airport will stay closed until 2100 GMT on Oct. 17, which is 1 a.m. on Oct. 18 in the UAE.

The disruption is wider than one airport. Aviation analytics firm Cirium said 99.7% of scheduled flights at Riyadh were cancelled Sunday. For Monday, Cirium estimated about 60% would be cancelled, while FlightRadar24 put the figure near 78%. More than a third of scheduled services across Saudi Arabia were expected to be cancelled Monday.

Indian carriers push dates back

IndiGo said Tuesday, Oct. 13, that flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah are cancelled until Oct. 17, citing "the evolving situation in Saudi Arabia." A day earlier, its cancellations on Riyadh and Dammam ran only to Oct. 15, and Jeddah and Madinah to Oct. 13.

IndiGo's list includes Madinah, which the Houthi warning exempts.

Akasa Air extended its suspension of all Riyadh and Jeddah flights to Oct. 17, according to its Oct. 13 advisory. Passengers can take a full refund to the original payment method within seven days, or rebook at no extra cost.

Other carriers have set their own dates:

• Air India has cancelled Riyadh flights until Oct. 15. It runs seven weekly flights from Delhi and Mumbai.
• Air India Express has suspended Riyadh service until Oct. 14. It runs 16 weekly flights from Bengaluru, Kochi, Kannur and Kozhikode.
• Lufthansa Group has cancelled Riyadh flights until Oct. 16.
• Air France-KLM has suspended Riyadh service through the end of October.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration advised American carriers on Sunday to use caution when flying to or over Saudi Arabia. The EU aviation safety agency EASA widened a Saudi airspace warning Friday, citing missile and drone attacks.

The Indian carriers' Oct. 17 dates line up with the airport's closure notice, which leaves no margin if Saudi authorities extend it again. Saudi authorities have not said what "procedures" remain before the airport can reopen. Meanwhile, the coalition is intercepting missiles aimed at Riyadh and Khamis Mushait, and the Houthis are still publicly targeting the capital's airport.