Riyadh Airport Reopens 2 Terminals After 13 Killed in Houthi Strike
(MENAFN) Flights resumed at least partially at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital on Sunday, ending a shutdown of roughly two weeks that followed attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group.
A Saudi broadcaster aired footage from inside two reopened terminals. State-run television said Terminal 1 was back in service for domestic flights, while Terminal 2 had reopened for international flights operated by Saudi carriers.
The reopening followed extensive coordination between the General Authority of Civil Aviation and security and technical bodies, the state broadcaster said. The aim was to confirm the airport met safety and security standards.
Only the two terminals are covered. No timeline has been given for a return to full capacity, and airport management issued no fresh statement on Sunday. A notice on Saturday had designated the terminals for domestic and international services and told passengers with confirmed bookings to check with their airlines on the status of their flights before traveling.
Operations were halted after a Houthi attack on the airport on Oct. 10 that left 13 people dead and more than 300 injured.
Houthis Renew Threats
As flights restarted, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree reissued warnings to airlines, staff and travelers not to use the airport. In a statement, he said the facility “is unsafe because it is a military target for our forces,” and that the group would keep up its operations against it.
Saree also said Saudi authorities were responsible for reopening the airport and for any consequences that follow.
The Houthis have held Sanaa and other parts of Yemen since 2014. They resumed fighting with Saudi-backed government forces in July, when a 2022 truce collapsed. The group has also struck Saudi energy sites.
A Saudi broadcaster aired footage from inside two reopened terminals. State-run television said Terminal 1 was back in service for domestic flights, while Terminal 2 had reopened for international flights operated by Saudi carriers.
The reopening followed extensive coordination between the General Authority of Civil Aviation and security and technical bodies, the state broadcaster said. The aim was to confirm the airport met safety and security standards.
Only the two terminals are covered. No timeline has been given for a return to full capacity, and airport management issued no fresh statement on Sunday. A notice on Saturday had designated the terminals for domestic and international services and told passengers with confirmed bookings to check with their airlines on the status of their flights before traveling.
Operations were halted after a Houthi attack on the airport on Oct. 10 that left 13 people dead and more than 300 injured.
Houthis Renew Threats
As flights restarted, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree reissued warnings to airlines, staff and travelers not to use the airport. In a statement, he said the facility “is unsafe because it is a military target for our forces,” and that the group would keep up its operations against it.
Saree also said Saudi authorities were responsible for reopening the airport and for any consequences that follow.
The Houthis have held Sanaa and other parts of Yemen since 2014. They resumed fighting with Saudi-backed government forces in July, when a 2022 truce collapsed. The group has also struck Saudi energy sites.
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