Full Breakdown
Riyadh Air Shifts Flights to Al Qassim Airport After Houthi Attacks
By Drooid · · How we work
Background: Houthi Attacks on Riyadh Airport
In mid-October 2026, the Houthi militia carried out multiple bombings of Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH). The attacks resulted in at least 15 fatalities and more than 300 injuries, and caused extensive damage, including the destruction of a Saudia Airbus A320 and damage to several other aircraft. The airport has remained closed to passenger traffic, operating only with prior permission for limited cargo movements.
Operational Logistics for the New Hub
As of October 25 2026, Riyadh Air announced that it will resume flights from Al Qassim Airport (ELQ), located roughly 250 miles (400 km) north of the capital. The airline’s initial schedule from Al Qassim includes routes to Cairo, Dhaka, Islamabad, Jeddah, London Heathrow, and Lahore. Passengers are required to check in at the InterContinental Hotel Durrat Al Riyadh; check-in opens between 15 minutes and two hours before the scheduled bus departure. A complimentary coach then transports travelers on a 4.5-hour drive to Al Qassim, arriving about 30 minutes before the baggage-cutoff time for each flight.
Impact on Passengers and Airline Services
The relocation means that travelers bound for Riyadh must endure a lengthy ground transfer, effectively extending a typical travel day by several hours. While the move enables Riyadh Air to restore limited passenger service, the inconvenience may deter some customers until passenger operations at RUH fully resume. Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier, is also offering tickets to Riyadh via Al Qassim with a similar bus connection, reflecting a broader industry shift to the secondary airport while the capital’s main hub remains non-operational for passenger flights.
Official Responses and Future Outlook
Saudi aviation authorities have kept RUH open for traffic with prior permission but have not lifted the suspension of passenger flights, with airlines cancelling services through the next week to the following year. The relocation to Al Qassim is described by airline officials as the “next best option” given the security situation, and it underscores the ongoing disruption to Saudi air travel caused by the Houthi attacks.