Riyadh, October 9 – Lufthansa and major Indian airlines suspended flights to Riyadh after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis claimed a ballistic missile attack on King Khalid International Airport. Smoke rose from a stationary aircraft at the Saudi capital’s facility on Thursday, according to a witness and people briefed on the matter. Saudi authorities said three people were killed this week in strikes on Riyadh airport and Abha airport in the southwest. These Houthi attacks prompted carriers to halt services amid renewed threats against airlines operating in the kingdom.
Lufthansa Group will suspend flights to Riyadh through October 16 because of current developments in the Middle East. The German carrier’s decision covers its airline operations on the route. India’s largest airline, IndiGo, cancelled all flights to and from Riyadh until October 9. Air India and Akasa Air cancelled all flights to and from the Saudi capital until October 10, reflecting coordinated responses by Indian airlines to the security risks at King Khalid International Airport.
An Air India flight from Delhi to Riyadh returned to the Indian capital on Thursday as disruptions took effect. Akasa Air cancelled two scheduled services linked to the same Houthi attack concerns. FlightRadar24 data showed several dozen international flights bound for Riyadh on Thursday evening were cancelled. The suspensions by Lufthansa and Indian airlines underscore immediate effects on commercial routes serving the Saudi capital.
The Houthis said they struck King Khalid International Airport with a ballistic missile, although Saudi authorities offered no immediate confirmation. Airlines cited passenger safety while monitoring Middle East developments tied to the claimed attack. Temporary cancellations affect travelers seeking access to Riyadh until carriers reassess conditions after the Houthi strikes on Saudi airports. Operations remain paused as the situation involving these flight suspensions continues to develop.