Riyadh Air Relocates Flights to Al-Qassim as King Khalid Airport Partially Reopens

Riyadh Air has shifted its operations from King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital to Al-Qassim International Airport, effective October 25, 2026, in an effort to resume flights following attacks launched by the Houthis.

The airline stated that flights to Cairo, Dhaka, Jeddah, London Heathrow, Lahore, and Islamabad will depart from Al-Qassim instead of Riyadh, providing a free shuttle bus for passengers from Riyadh to the airport, taking over three hours.

On the same day, King Khalid Airport announced the reopening of Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights. However, the continued threat of Houthi attacks prompted Riyadh Air to prioritize resuming operations away from the capital, following an attack on the airport on October 10 that killed 12 people and led to flight suspensions or government restrictions since then.

According to previous data, 86% of Riyadh's flights have been canceled since October 8, compared to 42% in Dammam and 22% in Jeddah. The United States advised its citizens in Saudi Arabia to exercise "extreme caution" if they choose to use airports, while the Saudi government stated that 10 ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis toward the southern region were intercepted and destroyed on October 25, and that a missile targeting Riyadh was intercepted by defenses earlier.

What do these terms mean?

Flight Diversion: Transferring the departure or arrival destination of a flight from one airport to another for security or operational reasons, while notifying passengers of alternative transport arrangements.

Ballistic Missiles: Missiles that follow an arched trajectory after launch and then descend onto their target, used in long-range attacks.

International Airport: An airport designated for receiving and dispatching flights between countries, subject to customs and passport control procedures.