Etihad Airways and flydubai announced disruptions to Riyadh services on Thursday, October 8, after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group claimed it had launched a new missile attack on the Saudi capital’s airport.
Etihad said its EY555 service from Abu Dhabi to Riyadh was subject to an extended delay because Riyadh airport had closed. The disruption was also expected to delay the return EY556 flight from Riyadh to Abu Dhabi.
Dubai-based flydubai said it had cancelled flights 855 and 856, which operate to and from Riyadh International Airport (RUH), on Thursday. The airline said its other scheduled flights to and from the airport had not been changed at that time.
Houthi claim and Saudi response
The Houthis said they had again targeted King Khalid Airport in Riyadh. Their statement followed an announcement from the Saudi-led coalition fighting the group that two missiles fired toward the Kingdom’s capital had been intercepted.
Yahya Saree, the Houthis’ military spokesman, said the group’s armed forces had targeted King Khalid Airport at midday with a ballistic missile, claiming that it struck its intended target.
Saudi civil aviation authorities said three people had been killed and more than 30 injured after two Saudi airports were targeted.
Airlines advise passengers to check flight status
An Etihad spokesperson said conditions remained fluid and that more amendments could follow. The airline advised passengers to consult its website for the most up-to-date status of their flights.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused by this disruption, and our teams are doing their best to assist affected guests with their travel arrangements,” the spokesperson said. “The safety and comfort of our guests and crew is our number one priority.”
A flydubai spokesperson said the carrier was closely monitoring the situation and would notify customers through its official channels of any further changes to its flight schedule.
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