Riyadh airport closure extended as renewed Houthi attacks disrupt Saudi air travel

Saudi Arabia extended the closure of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport after renewed Houthi missile and drone attacks, with Reuters reporting that the airport is expected to remain shut until Saturday. Airlines cancelled or diverted services, and Delta postponed the launch of a planned Atlanta–Riyadh route until March 2027.

Saudi authorities said attacks over the weekend killed 13 people and injured more than 300. The Houthis claimed responsibility. The Guardian reported that Saudi aviation officials were keeping the airport closed while safety checks continued and that further aerial threats had been detected. Schoolchildren and some office workers in Riyadh were advised to remain at home.

The disruption reaches beyond passengers. Riyadh is hosting a major international energy conference, while repeated strikes have forced Saudi Arabia to spread air-defence resources across airports, oil facilities and government sites. The precise condition of airport infrastructure and the timetable for a full reopening had not been independently verified at publication.

Search interest in the United States rose around Saudi airspace safety, according to Google Trends. That regional search surge is a discovery signal, not evidence; the reported facts come from Saudi statements and independent news coverage.