Saudi Arabia will overcome challenges, uphold global energy commitments, Prince Abdulaziz says

Following a deadly weekend of Houthi attacks, the skies above Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, remained largely empty on Monday. The Saudi civil aviation authority had suspended operations at King Khalid International Airport, the country's second-busiest airport, to review safety measures following the incidents. The airport had been closed since a particularly brutal assault on Saturday that claimed the lives of 13 individuals and left over 300 others injured, marking one of the most severe disruptions to Saudi aviation in recent years.

The latest attacks on Sunday resulted in a single fatality and nearly a dozen injuries, amplifying the challenges faced by an industry already struggling with Middle Eastern conflicts and soaring jet fuel prices. On Sunday, King Khalid International Airport canceled 99.7% of its scheduled flights, with air traffic trackers noting that planes were avoiding the city. Despite this, jets continued to navigate Saudi airspace and land at the country's primary hub, Jeddah, on the western coast.

The airport closures have prompted airlines in Europe and Asia to suspend services, and the Federal Aviation Administration advised US carriers to exercise caution when flying to or over Saudi Arabia. The European Union's aviation body, EASA, also widened a Saudi airspace warning following the missile and drone strikes. Major carriers such as Lufthansa Group and Air France-KLM have canceled all flights to Riyadh until October 16, while Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways extended Saudi flight cancellations, impacting approximately 20 flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam on Monday and Tuesday.

The ongoing confrontation with the Houthis has raised concerns about the potential broader economic ramifications. Saudi Arabia's real GDP is expected to shrink by 3.6% this year, driven by a mix of declining oil activity and the repercussions of these attacks. As a result, significant events scheduled in Riyadh this month, including the kingdom's flagship investment conference and the WPC Energy Congress, are facing disruptions as several top oil executives have been removed from the program.