Riyadh Airport Will Stay Closed Until October 17. Major Airlines Are Extending Flight Cancellations.

Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport will remain closed until October 17 following deadly weekend attacks attributed to Yemen's Houthi rebels, with international airlines extending flight cancellations and Delta Air Lines postponing the launch of its planned nonstop service to the Saudi capital.

Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation extended the airport's operational suspension Monday to allow additional safety inspections and assessments of airport facilities.

A Notice to Airmen indicated that the closure would remain in effect until 9 p.m. GMT on October 17, although the reopening date remains subject to further updates.

The decision follows strikes on Saturday and Sunday that killed at least 14 people and injured more than 300. The airport has remained closed since Saturday, forcing airlines to cancel flights and adjust schedules.

Airlines Extend Flight Suspensions

Several major carriers have announced cancellations extending beyond the airport's initial closure period.

Lufthansa Group has suspended Riyadh flights through October 16, while Air France-KLM has canceled services until the end of October.

Etihad Airways has suspended its Abu Dhabi-Riyadh route until October 19, while Gulf Air has canceled Riyadh flights through October 17.

Air India and IndiGo have also extended cancellations affecting Saudi destinations, according to Reuters.

Aviation analytics firm Cirium said cancellations across Saudi airports reached 46.4% of scheduled flights Monday.

Delta Postpones New Riyadh Route Until March

Delta Air Lines has postponed the launch of its planned Atlanta-Riyadh nonstop service, originally scheduled to begin October 23, until March 2027.

The airline cited the regional security situation following the attacks, according to Reuters.

Delta has issued a travel waiver allowing eligible passengers to change travel dates or request refunds under specified conditions.

Aviation Safety Concerns Remain

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency updated its Saudi Arabia airspace advisory on October 9, warning of risks from missiles, drones and air-defense activity.

The regulator advised airlines to avoid specified areas of Saudi airspace and exercise caution elsewhere.

Saudi aviation authorities have not confirmed when full airport operations will resume. The October 17 deadline reflects the latest closure notice, while some international carriers have announced longer suspensions based on their own security assessments.