Riyadh Airport Remains Closed to Passengers as Airlines Reroute Flights to Al-Qassim
Riyadh Airport remains closed to passenger flights, with Saudia and Riyadh Air rerouting bookings through Al-Qassim, located about four hours away, amid cancellations extending for months.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh continues to handle air traffic by prior authorization only, while passenger flights have not yet resumed, according to Semafor, citing airlines.
Saudia is rerouting passengers heading to Riyadh through Al-Qassim Airport, which is about a four-hour drive away, providing buses to connect the airport to the capital, while Riyadh Air, owned by the Public Investment Fund, is offering those who booked flights to Riyadh the option to land in Al-Qassim.
Most airlines have canceled their services to Riyadh for periods ranging between next week and next year, according to Semafor. Local carriers have also relocated aircraft parked at the airport to other locations, indicating that travel to the capital is not expected to resume anytime soon.
The source links the continued closure to an attack attributed to Yemen's Houthi group about two weeks ago. Available information does not include an official timeline for resuming passenger flights.
What do these terms mean?
Prior authorization: Approval granted in advance for an aircraft to land or take off at a specific airport, used when the airport is partially open or operating under limited traffic.
Rerouting flights: Redirecting a flight from the original destination airport to an alternative airport, along with arranging ground transportation for passengers to their destination.
Public Investment Fund: Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which invests in domestic and international sectors and holds Riyadh Air in its portfolio.
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