RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Lufthansa Group and three Indian airlines suspended flights to and from Riyadh after explosions were reported at King Khalid International Airport, disrupting international travel as security concerns intensified around Saudi Arabia’s capital.
Lufthansa Group said its Riyadh flight suspensions would continue through October 16. IndiGo halted services through October 9, while Air India and Akasa Air suspended flights through October 10, according to announcements made on October 8.
The decisions followed reports of an attack on the airport and renewed threats against Saudi targets by Yemen’s Houthi movement. The suspensions did not amount to a shutdown of all international flights to Riyadh.
Indian flights disrupted
Air India returned a flight from Delhi to Riyadh to the Indian capital after the disruption. Akasa Air also cancelled two scheduled services between Kochi and Riyadh, while IndiGo suspended its Riyadh operations for the announced period.
The airlines cited safety concerns amid the developing security situation. Travellers with bookings during the suspension periods were advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest flight status, rebooking arrangements and refund options.
The announced deadlines were close at the time of publication. They should not be treated as confirmation that services resumed automatically once those dates passed.
Houthi claim remains distinct from confirmed facts
Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for a missile attack targeting King Khalid International Airport. The claim had not been independently confirmed by Saudi authorities at the time of the initial airline announcements.
Witness reports described smoke near an aircraft at the airport, while flight-tracking data showed substantial disruption to scheduled services. Those reports indicate the seriousness of the incident but do not, by themselves, establish every detail of the attack or who carried it out.
Saudi authorities had separately reported fatalities from attacks involving Riyadh and Abha airports earlier in the week. The separate reports should not be taken as confirmation of casualties in the specific incident that prompted the October 8 flight suspensions.
India condemns attacks on Saudi airports
India’s embassy in Riyadh issued a statement on October 8 condemning attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport and Abha International Airport over the preceding days. It said the attacks had resulted in civilian deaths and injuries and described the targeting of civilian infrastructure as unacceptable.
The statement expressed condolences to victims’ families and solidarity with Saudi Arabia. It did not independently establish responsibility for the specific airport incident claimed by the Houthis.
The diplomatic response underscored the wider regional implications of attacks affecting civilian infrastructure and international transport.
Disruption extended beyond individual airlines
Flight-tracking figures reported on October 8 indicated that more than 275 flights had been cancelled at Riyadh’s airport. The figure was a dated snapshot of disruption, not a current total or a measure of cancellations attributable solely to the four airline groups.
The suspensions showed how security threats can quickly affect passenger services even when airlines operate different networks and schedules. Lufthansa’s longer suspension also indicated that at least one major international airline expected uncertainty to persist beyond the immediate disruption.
The operational picture remained subject to change as airlines assessed security developments and reviewed their schedules.
For passengers, the immediate priority is to verify individual flight status with the operating airline before travelling to the airport. The suspensions announced on October 8 apply to specified airlines and periods, not to every carrier serving Riyadh.
Reporting Credit: Lufthansa Group; IndiGo; Air India; Akasa Air; Embassy of India in Riyadh.
