Full Breakdown
Lufthansa, Indian Airlines Halt Riyadh Flights After Explosions
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Flight Suspensions Following Riyadh Airport Explosions
On Thursday, October 8, Lufthansa Group and three Indian carriers announced the suspension of all services to Riyadh after explosions were reported at King Khalid International Airport. Air India cancelled its Delhi-Riyadh service and all subsequent flights until October 10, while IndiGo halted flights until October 9. Akasa Air also suspended its Riyadh operations through Saturday, and low-cost carrier IndiGo confirmed the same timeframe.
Background & Context
The Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen claimed responsibility for striking the airport with a ballistic missile, though Saudi authorities have not confirmed the allegation. Saudi officials reported that three people were killed in recent strikes on Riyadh and Abha airports, underscoring heightened security concerns in the region.
Official Statements & Responses
Air India issued a statement that the airline was acting “in the interest of safety” by cancelling flights until October 10. IndiGo’s communication indicated a temporary halt of service through October 9, and Akasa Air cited safety considerations for its short-term suspension.
Data & Statistics
Flight monitoring service FlightAware recorded more than 275 flights canceled at King Khalid International Airport, representing roughly 40 % of scheduled arrivals and 30 % of departures. Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that 49.7 % of departures had been cancelled by 1500 GMT on the day of the attacks. Global tracker FlightRadar24 noted that the airport’s last landing occurred more than 80 minutes earlier than usual, with the final takeoff over 90 minutes earlier, and projected an additional 31 cancellations for the following day across Saudi airports.
What’s Next
Lufthansa’s suspension remains in effect until October 16, after which the airline will reassess the security situation before resuming service. Indian carriers have set earlier end dates for their suspensions, with IndiGo planning to restart flights on October 9 and Air India on October 10, pending further safety evaluations.