Quick Answer: Lufthansa Group suspended all flights to Riyadh through October 16, joining Air India, IndiGo and Akasa Air in halting service to the Saudi capital. Nearly half of Thursday's departures from King Khalid International Airport were cancelled after Houthi missile claims, and smoke was seen rising from a stationary aircraft at the airport.
Lufthansa Group said Thursday it will suspend flights to Riyadh through October 16, making it the first major European carrier to pull out of the Saudi capital as Houthi missile attacks cripple the kingdom's air traffic. The German group joined India's three largest airlines — Air India, IndiGo and Akasa Air — which have all cancelled Riyadh services this week, citing the security situation.
The suspensions mark a sharp escalation in the fallout from the reignited Yemen war. By Thursday afternoon, nearly half of all scheduled departures from Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport had been cancelled, global trackers reported, and a Reuters witness saw smoke rising from a stationary aircraft at the airport earlier in the day.
Lufthansa Suspends Riyadh Flights Through October 16
A Lufthansa spokesperson told Reuters the German group's airlines would suspend flights to Riyadh through October 16 due to "current developments in the Middle East" — a longer halt than any Indian carrier has announced so far. The move pulls one of Europe's biggest airline groups out of the Saudi capital for a full week, a sign of how seriously the industry is taking the Houthi threats.
Lufthansa's decision carries weight beyond its own passengers. When a carrier of its size grounds a route for seven days, it signals to the rest of the industry that the risk picture around Saudi airspace has fundamentally changed. The airline did not say whether it would reroute affected passengers through other Gulf hubs.
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Indian Airlines Cancel Riyadh Services Too
India's largest airline, IndiGo, said Thursday it had cancelled all flights to and from Riyadh until October 9. Air India and Akasa Air told Reuters they had cancelled all flights to and from the Saudi capital until October 10, while Air India Express announced the same halt.
"In view of the evolving situation in the region, we have cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until October 10. Affected guests are being offered complimentary rescheduling or a full refund on cancellation. We continue to monitor the situation closely," an Air India Express spokesperson said.
Air India added that a Delhi-to-Riyadh flight had turned back to the Indian capital on Thursday, while Akasa Air cancelled two scheduled services. The Indian carriers say affected passengers will get full refunds or free rescheduling.
Smoke Seen Rising From Aircraft at King Khalid Airport
Smoke was seen rising from a stationary aircraft at Riyadh airport earlier on Thursday, according to a witness and three people briefed on the matter, Reuters reported. The sighting came hours after the Houthis said they had struck King Khalid International Airport with a ballistic missile.
There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities about the latest Houthi claim, and it isn't clear what caused the smoke. Saudi officials did say Wednesday that three people were killed this week in strikes on the Riyadh and Abha airports — the first deaths since Saudi Arabia and allied Yemeni forces launched a major ground and air offensive against the rebels.
Half of Riyadh Airport's Departures Cancelled
The disruption is massive in scale. Several dozen international flights bound for Riyadh on Thursday evening were cancelled, according to global flight tracker FlightRadar24. Data compiled by aviation analytics firm Cirium showed 49.7 percent of departures from Riyadh airport had been cancelled by 1500 GMT, with a further 31 cancellations expected across Saudi airports on Friday.
In all, at least 333 flights connecting with Riyadh were cancelled globally, tracker portals reported. King Khalid International Airport itself took to X on Thursday, urging passengers to contact their airlines directly and check flight status before heading to the airport — hours after multiple explosions echoed over the Saudi capital.
Houthis Claim New Missile Strikes on Saudi Airports
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said Thursday the group had launched two missiles at Riyadh's airport, as well as one at an airport in Najran and another at an airbase in Khamis Mushait — an expanded target list beyond the capital. The claims could not be independently verified, and Saudi Arabia did not immediately confirm them.
Early Thursday, the Houthis warned global airlines "for the last time" about the consequences of operating in Saudi airspace, which the group called a theater for its military operations. The rebels say they are targeting the kingdom over its support for government forces in Yemen's reignited civil war, where Saudi-backed troops are trying to retake territory from the Houthis along the Red Sea coast.
The Saudi-led coalition said Thursday it had intercepted missiles in a previous attack. Saudi civil defense officials said debris from an interception had damaged a kindergarten and a medical clinic complex in Riyadh — a detail that underscores how the fighting is now spilling into the capital's neighborhoods.
Why This Matters
The airline pullout is the clearest sign yet that the Houthi-Saudi escalation has moved beyond a military exchange into something that disrupts ordinary civilian life and global commerce. When Lufthansa grounds a route for a week and half an airport's schedule vanishes, the economic damage spreads fast — to business travel, cargo, pilgrimage traffic and the millions of migrant workers who fly through Riyadh.
It also puts pressure on Saudi Arabia's allies. Pakistan, Turkey and potentially Syria are weighing or providing military support to the kingdom under the new Mecca defense pact, and the longer Saudi airports stay disrupted, the harder it gets for Riyadh to argue the situation is under control. The conflict, now an overspill of the wider US-Iran war, is drawing in more states by the week.
What Happens Next
The immediate question is whether the suspensions spread. Cirium's data points to more cancellations Friday, and if other international carriers follow Lufthansa, Riyadh could face a near-total aviation freeze. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh has already advised Indian nationals in the kingdom to stay indoors and follow local authorities' instructions.
Watch for the Saudi-led coalition's next retaliation — it has already struck dozens of Houthi targets in Yemen this week — and for whether the Houthis follow through on threats against oil facilities, which would send crude prices spiking again. For now, passengers with Riyadh tickets should assume disruption and contact their airline before traveling.
Key Takeaways
- Lufthansa Group suspended flights to Riyadh through October 16 — the first major European carrier to halt service over the Houthi attacks.
- IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express and Akasa Air all cancelled Riyadh flights, with IndiGo halting until October 9 and the others until October 10.
- Smoke was seen rising from a stationary aircraft at King Khalid International Airport on Thursday, per a Reuters witness.
- Cirium data showed 49.7 percent of Riyadh airport departures cancelled by 1500 GMT Thursday; at least 333 Riyadh-connected flights were cancelled globally.
- The Houthis claimed new Thursday strikes on Riyadh, Najran and Khamis Mushait airports — claims Saudi Arabia has not confirmed.
- Three people were killed earlier this week in strikes on the Riyadh and Abha airports, Saudi authorities said Wednesday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Lufthansa suspend flights to Riyadh?
A Lufthansa spokesperson told Reuters the group's airlines would suspend flights to Riyadh through October 16 due to "current developments in the Middle East." The decision followed Houthi missile claims against King Khalid International Airport and the group's warning to airlines operating in Saudi airspace.
Which airlines have cancelled Riyadh flights?
Lufthansa Group (through October 16), IndiGo (all flights to and from Riyadh until October 9), Air India, Air India Express and Akasa Air (until October 10). Air India also turned a Delhi-to-Riyadh flight back mid-journey on Thursday, while Akasa Air cancelled two scheduled services.
Was Riyadh airport hit by a missile on Thursday?
The Houthis claimed they struck King Khalid International Airport with a ballistic missile, but Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm it. What is confirmed: a Reuters witness saw smoke rising from a stationary aircraft at the airport Thursday, and the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted missiles in a previous attack.
How many flights were cancelled?
Tracker portals reported at least 333 flights connecting with Riyadh cancelled globally. Aviation analytics firm Cirium found 49.7 percent of departures from Riyadh airport cancelled by 1500 GMT on Thursday, with 31 more cancellations expected across Saudi airports on Friday.
Can I still fly to Saudi Arabia?
King Khalid International Airport has asked passengers to contact their airlines directly and check flight status before going to the airport. If your flight is cancelled, the airlines say you're entitled to a full refund or free rescheduling. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh has advised Indian nationals there to stay indoors.
Why are the Houthis attacking Saudi airports?
The Houthis say they're targeting Saudi Arabia over its support for Yemen's internationally recognized government, which — backed by a Saudi-led coalition — is trying to retake Houthi-held territory along the Red Sea coast. The fighting is an overspill of the wider US-Iran war that reignited in July.
Read next: Air India Suspends Riyadh Flights After Houthi Airport Strikes | Saudi Intercepts Houthi Missiles as Blasts Hit Riyadh Airport | Saudi Confirms 3 Killed in Houthi Airport Attacks | Oil Prices Surge Above $105 as Hormuz Attacks, Storm Bite
By GlobalDeskNews Staff
Sources
- Reuters, "Lufthansa, Air India suspend flights to Riyadh after Houthi attacks," October 8, 2026 — reuters.com
- NDTV, "IndiGo, Air India Divert, Cancel Riyadh Flights After Houthi Airport Attacks," October 8, 2026 — ndtv.com
- Daily Sabah, "Airline companies suspend Riyadh flights after Houthi attacks," October 8, 2026 — dailysabah.com
- Aaj English TV, "Lufthansa Group, Air India suspend Riyadh flights amid Houthi threats," October 8, 2026 — english.aaj.tv
- FlightRadar24 / Cirium cancellation data, as reported by Reuters, October 8, 2026