{
  "id": 13051463,
  "title": "Riyadh airport flights broadly back to normal after days of disruption",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/riyadh-airport-flights-broadly-back-to-normal-after-days-of-disruption",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T06:29:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/travel/2026/10/09/riyadh-airport-flights-broadly-back-to-normal-after-days-of-disruption/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has largely returned to normal operations following a series of disruptions over the past few days. On Friday morning, flight tracking website Flightradar24 noted that 63 flights had been delayed, accounting for 18 percent of all departures, while 44 flights were cancelled, representing 13 percent of the total. This marked a significant improvement from the day before, when 164 delays (42 percent of flights) and 167 cancellations (43 percent) were reported on Thursday.\n\nOn Friday morning, flights are projected to depart on time. Prior to that, the airport was suspended on Wednesday morning following Houthi attacks. The disruption continued into Thursday, as several flights were affected.\n\nAmong the cancelled flights, Emirates flight EK820 experienced several hour-long delays on both Wednesday and Thursday before being cancelled on Friday, with a rescheduled departure on Saturday. Flydubai flight FZ848 faced delays on Thursday but is now scheduled to resume service on Saturday. Additionally, several flights bound for India, including Air India flight AI2214 to Mumbai and IndiGo flight IGO74 to Bengaluru, as well as Air India Express flight IX896 to Bengaluru, have been cancelled.\n\nFlyadeal, a low-cost airline, also cancelled several domestic flights, such as F3111 to Jeddah and F323 to Abha. The airport's disruption was triggered by drone and missile strikes on King Khalid International Airport and Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia, which resulted in three deaths and 36 injuries. Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attacks and further damage to the region.",
  "summary": "Services from Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport are slowly normalising following days of delays and cancellations. On Friday morning, flight tracking website Flightradar24 reported that 63 flights (18 per cent) have been delayed, with 44 cancelled (13 per cent) since midnight. This is compared to a total of 164 delays (42 per cent) and 167 cancellations (43 per cent) on Thursday . From…",
  "key_points": [
    "King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh resumes normal operations",
    "63 flights delayed, 44 cancelled on Friday, 18% and 13% of flights respectively",
    "Disruption began Wednesday due to Houthi attacks, three deaths and 36 injuries"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Riyadh airport flights broadly back to normal after days of disruption",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/riyadh-airport-flights-broadly-back-to-normal-after-days-of-disruption-13051955",
        "published": "2026-10-09T06:29:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Saudi authorities say 3 killed in attacks on Riyadh airport claimed by Houthi rebels",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/saudi-authorities-say-3-killed-in-attacks-on-riyadh-airport-claimed",
        "published": "2026-10-09T07:48:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Saudia pilot killed in Riyadh airport attack, airline says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/saudia-pilot-killed-in-riyadh-airport-attack-airline-says",
        "published": "2026-10-09T08:04:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "3 killed in Saudi Arabia after Houthi attack on Riyadh airport",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/3-killed-in-saudi-arabia-after-houthi-attack-on-riyadh-airport",
        "published": "2026-10-09T08:23:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Four killed in attacks on Riyadh airport, Saudia confirms employee’s death",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/four-killed-in-attacks-on-riyadh-airport-saudia-confirms-employees",
        "published": "2026-10-09T08:48:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Saudia pilot among three dead after Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/saudia-pilot-among-three-dead-after-houthi-attacks-on-riyadh-airport",
        "published": "2026-10-09T09:30:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Houthi strikes on Riyadh airport killed three Saudis as war escalates",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/houthi-strikes-on-riyadh-airport-killed-three-saudis-as-war-escalates",
        "published": "2026-10-09T09:37:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}