Akasa Air and other Indian airlines cancel flights to Riyadh

 Report, copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

After the Yemeni Houthi rebels claimed an attack on the airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, the Lufthansa Group and three Indian airlines announced on October 8 that they would suspend flights to the city. The United States also urged its citizens in Saudi Arabia to remain vigilant.

A Lufthansa spokesperson told Reuters that, citing "current developments in the Middle East," the group's airlines would suspend flights to Riyadh until 16 October 2026.

IndiGo, India's largest airline, announced the cancellation of all flights to and from Riyadh until October 9. Air India and Akasa Air also informed Reuters that they had cancelled all flights to and from Riyadh until 10 October 2026.

Air India added that a flight departing from Delhi, India, for Riyadh had turned back to Delhi earlier that day, while Akasa Air cancelled two scheduled flights.

According to a witness and three people familiar with the matter, an aircraft parked on the ground at Riyadh's airport was seen emitting smoke earlier on 8 October 2026.

The Houthi rebels claimed to have attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile, though Saudi officials did not immediately confirm the incident. Saudi Arabia stated on 7 October 2026 that attacks on Riyadh's airport and the airport in the southwestern city of Abha earlier that week had resulted in three deaths.

Data from the global flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed that multiple international flights bound for Riyadh were cancelled in the evening of 8 October 2026.

AFP reported that the United States urged American citizens in Saudi Arabia on October 8 to "exercise increased caution." The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs stated on the social media platform X: "The U.S. Mission is aware of an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 8 and reminds all U.S. citizens to remain vigilant." The post also noted that U.S. government personnel currently working in Saudi Arabia must obtain special authorization to use this transportation hub.