Brief
UAE airlines cancel Riyadh flights after fresh airport attack
Etihad Airways and flydubai halted Riyadh services on Oct 10 following a fresh attack on the Saudi capital’s main airport, while broader Gulf shipping risks persist.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Etihad Airways and flydubai cancelled flights to Riyadh on Monday, Oct 10, after a new assault on King Khalid International Airport, Gulf News reported. The attack prompted an evacuation and a temporary suspension of air traffic at the Saudi capital’s main hub, according to two regional officials who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
What happened
The latest strike hit the airport on Saturday, prompting Saudi authorities to halt all operations and evacuate passengers. The incident followed earlier attacks on Oct 8 that killed three Saudi nationals, including a Saudia pilot, and damaged a Saudia aircraft. No group had claimed responsibility for the Saturday assault at the time of reporting.
What the reports add
Gulf News noted that Reuters confirmed Etihad and flydubai cancelled flights scheduled for Oct 10, while Lufthansa suspended its Riyadh service until Oct 16. The report also cited travel warnings issued by Britain, France and Germany. The Financial Times was mentioned as reporting Iranian Revolutionary Guard threats to vessels using routes the Tehran government deems unauthorised, extending concerns to Gulf shipping lanes beyond the Strait of Hormuz.
What was said
Gulf News quoted the regional officials as saying the airport attack forced an evacuation and a suspension of air traffic, though their identities were not disclosed. No official statement from the airlines or Saudi authorities was included in the article.
How it came about
The fresh attack follows a series of Houthi‑linked strikes on Saudi aviation assets that began on Oct 8, which killed three Saudi citizens and damaged a Saudia plane, as detailed in earlier Felo News coverage (see Riyadh airport attack suspends operations). The ongoing Yemen conflict and Iranian threats to shipping have already raised insurance premiums and freight costs for UAE businesses, a trend highlighted in Felo’s September analysis of US‑Iran tensions.
Key facts
- Etihad Airways and flydubai cancelled Riyadh flights on Oct 10 after a fresh attack on King Khalid International Airport. (gulfnews.com)
- Lufthansa suspended its Riyadh service until Oct 16, per Reuters, as noted by Gulf News. (gulfnews.com)
- The attack followed earlier Oct 8 strikes that killed three Saudi nationals, including a Saudia pilot. (gulfnews.com)
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “Riyadh Airport Attack Sparks Security Concerns Amid Gulf Shipping Risks and Yemen Conflict”
