Thousands Of Passengers Abandoned In Saudi Arabia As Riyadh, Abha, Jeddah, Najran, And More Cancel 208 And Delay 158 Flights, Disrupting Saudia, Qatar Airways, And Others

Written By: Ryan Rashid

Ryan Rashid

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July 15, 2026 3:03 AM |

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Flight cancellations skyrocketed in Saudi Arabia after 208 were cancelled and 158 delayed, with the largest disruption unfolding at King Abdulaziz in Jeddah, which was hit by nearly a quarter of the cancellations, while King Khalid in Riyadh experienced the highest delays. Saudia emerged as the airline hit hardest, accounting for 75% of all cancellations. Other carriers experiencing major disruptions included Flynas, and Qatar Airways. Airports serving Abha, Gizan, Najran, and Sharurah recorded widespread cancellations as Houthi missile threats and heightened airspace security concerns continued disrupting operations, especially at Abha Airport.

• King Abdulaziz in Jeddah reported the highest number of cancellations with 50.
• King Khalid in Riyadh recorded the most delays with 99.
• Saudia was the worst-affected airline with 156 cancellations and 32 delays.

How Renewed Saudi-Yemen Tensions Sent Aviation Into Turmoil

The latest disruptions followed Houthi missile threats and heightened regional security concerns that sharply increased challenges for airlines.
Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis appeared on the brink of renewed conflict after the group claimed its first large-scale strikes against the kingdom since 2022.
According to the Houthis, missiles were fired at an airport in the southern Saudi city of Abha late Monday after Yemen’s internationally recognised government diverted an Iran-bound aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation returning from the funeral of Iran’s late supreme leader.
The Houthis blamed Riyadh for the incident and later issued a warning through their military media account on X, cautioning airlines against operating through Saudi airspace until what they described as the blockade of Sana’a International Airport is lifted.

What The Houthi Warning To Airlines Means For Passengers

The Houthis have publicly warned airlines against operating through Saudi airspace until restrictions on flights to and from Sanaa International Airport are lifted. While the statement does not automatically close Saudi airspace, airlines closely monitor such security warnings when assessing operational risk. As a result, carriers may delay, reroute, or cancel flights as a precaution even when airports remain open and runway operations continue normally. For passengers, that can mean last-minute schedule changes, longer travel times, and disrupted connections without any visible problems at the airport itself.
As concern over the latest Yemen-Saudi escalation fuels a surge in searches for “Houthis attack Saudi Arabia” and “Yemen attack on Saudi Arabia,” airlines are reshuffling schedules amid heightened security risks, leading to widespread flight disruptions.

Timeline: How The Saudi Arabia–Yemen Aviation Crisis Escalated

• Sanaa Airport targeted: Yemen’s internationally recognized government struck the runway at Sanaa International Airport, saying it was preventing an Iranian aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation from landing.
• Abha comes under attack: In retaliation, the Iran-backed Houthis launched missiles and drones toward Abha Airport, marking the most serious escalation since the 2022 truce.
• Warning issued to airlines: The Houthis urged airlines to avoid Saudi airspace until restrictions on Sanaa Airport are lifted, raising fresh concerns across the aviation sector.
• Flights disrupted across Saudi Arabia: Airlines adjusted operations as the security situation evolved, contributing to 208 cancellations and 158 delays across airports including Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Gizan, Najran, and Sharurah.

Hardest-Hit Saudi Airports

King Abdulaziz Airport, Jeddah

Jeddah’s main airport recorded 50 cancellations and 57 delays, making it the country’s worst-affected airport for cancelled flights. Saudia, flyadeal, and Flynas accounted for most of the disruptions, with additional delays affecting Gulf Air and Qatar Airways services.

King Khalid Airport, Riyadh

Riyadh experienced the highest number of delays nationwide with 99 delayed flights, alongside 48 cancellations. Saudia recorded the largest number of cancellations, while Flynas, flyadeal, and Qatar Airways were among the airlines seeing notable delays.

Abha Airport

Abha reported 48 cancellations and 2 delays. Most cancellations involved Saudia, followed by flyadeal, Flynas, and FlyDubai, reflecting the airport’s significant operational disruption.

Gizan Airport

Flights to and from Gizan were heavily affected, with 36 cancellations. Saudia recorded the majority of cancelled services, while flyadeal, Flynas, Air Arabia, and FlyDubai also experienced disruptions.

Najran Airport

Najran saw 20 cancelled flights without any reported delays. Saudia accounted for most cancellations, with FlyDubai, Flynas, and Nile Air also impacted.

Sharurah Airport

Sharurah reported 6 cancellations, all involving Saudia.

Airlines Most Impacted by Flight Disruptions

Saudia

Saudi Arabia’s national carrier suffered the largest operational impact, recording 156 cancellations and 32 delays across the affected airports. The airline accounted for the majority of disruptions in Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Gizan, Najran, and Sharurah.

Flynas

Flynas experienced 39 delays and 16 cancellations, making it the second-most affected airline overall. Its operations were disrupted primarily at Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Gizan, and Najran.

flyadeal

The low-cost carrier recorded 20 cancellations and 19 delays, with the greatest impact occurring in Jeddah, Riyadh, Abha, and Gizan.

Qatar Airways

Although cancellations were avoided, Qatar Airways experienced 12 delays, mainly involving flights operating through Riyadh and Jeddah.

What Should Affected Travellers Do?

• Check your airline’s latest flight status before leaving for the airport.
• Allow additional travel time if travelling through airports such as King Khalid, King Abdulaziz, or Abha, where schedules may continue to change.
• Keep notifications enabled on your airline’s mobile app for real-time updates.
• Contact your airline promptly if your flight has been cancelled to discuss rebooking or refund options.
• Keep important travel documents, medicines, and essential items in your carry-on baggage in case of extended waiting times.
• Monitor official airport and airline announcements before heading to airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, Gizan, Najran, or other affected cities.

Overview of Flight Cancellations And Delays

The latest disruptions affected travellers across multiple Saudi cities, particularly Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Gizan, Najran, and Sharurah, where airline operations were interrupted to varying degrees. While King Khalid handled the largest volume of delayed flights, King Abdulaziz experienced the greatest number of cancellations, highlighting how the impact varied between major aviation hubs.
Among airlines, Saudia absorbed by far the greatest disruption, followed by Flynas, flyadeal, FlyDubai, Qatar Airways, and Gulf Air. Passengers travelling through Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, and Gizan were particularly likely to encounter schedule changes, while those flying to or from Najran and Sharurah also experienced cancellations. As the regional security situation remains fluid, airlines are expected to continue monitoring conditions closely and make operational adjustments whenever passenger and crew safety requires it.

Data Verification Notice

The Data is extensively curated by me with figures derived from Flightaware dated 14th July 4:06 pm ET USA

Primary Source: Real-time data aggregated via FlightAware.

Verification Protocol: Statistics are cross-checked by our human editorial desk. Timestamped logs and feed snapshots are securely archived internally to maintain historical accuracy.

Note: Real-time tracking figures represent active airspace data and may experience minor variances from local airport terminal gates. 

Travelers are advised to check respective airline and airports for more latest information and updates