Lufthansa and Air India Suspend Riyadh Flights After Houthis Announce Targeting Airport
Lufthansa suspended its flights to Riyadh until October 16 and Air India canceled its flights until October 10, while the U.S. mission issued a security alert for travelers.
Lufthansa and Air India announced the suspension of their flights to Riyadh after the Houthi group in Yemen announced targeting King Khalid International Airport with a ballistic missile. German Lufthansa Group suspended its flights to the Saudi capital until October 16, while India's Air India canceled all its flights to Riyadh until October 10.
The Houthi group stated that it launched a ballistic missile toward King Khalid Airport, the main airport serving the Saudi capital and a gateway for regional and international flights. The Saudi-led coalition later announced that it intercepted three missiles directed at Khamis Mushait and Riyadh.
The U.S. mission in Saudi Arabia issued a security alert advising travelers to prepare for potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and other travel disruptions. The warning comes at a time when airlines and travelers are anticipating the impact of any disruption at one of the region's largest airports on flight connectivity schedules.
The suspension of flights to Riyadh by two international carriers leaves a direct impact on travel from Europe and Asia to Saudi Arabia, at a time when the region seeks to attract more flights and visitors. This means that travelers to the Saudi capital may face cancellations and diversions in the coming period, amid a U.S. warning of potential travel disruptions and airspace closures.
What Do These Terms Mean?
Ballistic missile: A missile that travels in an arched trajectory to hit a distant target, used in long-range attacks.
Hub airport: A major airport through which many domestic and international flights are organized, so any issue affecting it impacts a broad travel network.
Airspace: The air space subject to the control of a specific country; any closure forces aircraft to reroute or cancel their flights.
Security alert: A notice issued by an embassy or diplomatic mission to its citizens advising them to exercise caution or adjust their plans.
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