Airlines cancel Riyadh flights as airport closure is extended

Saudi Arabia extended the closure of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport until October 17, after deadly Houthi attacks, forcing airlines to cancel flights and disrupting one of the country’s key aviation hubs. The Saudi civil aviation authority said operations were suspended until procedures were completed to ensure safety and readiness, with a Notice to Airmen indicating the airport would remain closed until 2100 GMT on Oct. 17. The airport has been closed since an Oct. 10 attack killed 13 and wounded more than 300, while another attack on Sunday killed one and injured nearly a dozen. The disruption has affected European and Asian carriers, with cancellations across Saudi airports reaching 46.4%, according to Cirium.