Riyadh airport reopening in doubt after Houthi attacks

• Tentatively scheduled for Sunday
• Airport targeted at least 20 times
• Resumption of flights a ‘public statement’

Riyadh’s main airport is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Sunday morning, but experts are divided over whether the closure will be extended.

King Khalid International Airport has been shut since October 10, when the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300.

The airport closure and disrupted air connections across Saudi Arabia have forced travellers to find alternative ways into the country, pushed up logistics costs and may have contributed to a growing list of cancelled events.

A Notam (notice to airmen) issued by Riyadh airport authorities earlier this week sets the reopening at midnight on Saturday, subject to review.

The airport was approached for comment.

“Notams can be extended fairly easily,” said Andrew Charlton, managing director of Swiss consultancy Aviation Advocacy. “They have expiry dates on them when issued, but that doesn’t mean much.”

The airport may remain closed because of ongoing Houthi attacks on civilian airports across the country.

“Safety first,” said Charlton.

The Houthis have launched at least 20 attacks on Riyadh airport this month, according to the spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. At least 20 people are reported to have died in attacks on airports across the country, according to a tally compiled by AGBI.

Further reading:

• Flight disruptions spread following Riyadh airport attack
• Riyadh Air moves some operations to other airports
• Cargo operators find Riyadh workarounds – at a price

Flight data shows that at least 25 commercial aircraft, as well as private aircraft and helicopters, have departed the airport since Saturday.

Almost all were seen landing at other Saudi airports. AGBI understands that airlines are considering re-routing operations out of different airports if Riyadh airport does not reopen as planned.

“Airlines always have contingency plans, some of which are refreshed more than others, but certainly every locally based airline and those that operate to Riyadh will have spent the last few days updating those plans,” said John Grant, partner at UK consultancy Midas Aviation and an AGBI columnist.

Although the Notam is subject to change, Grant expects the airport to reopen on Sunday as planned.

“The reopening is as much an operational necessity as a public statement for the authorities,” he said. “And, as such, it will re-open on time.”