Flights Cancelled Throughout Saudi Arabia As Jeddah, Riyadh, Abha, Gizan, And Najran Cancel 154 And Delay 189 Flights, Grounding Saudia, Nile Air, Flynas, And Others

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Thousands of passengers left abandoned in Saudi Arabia today as 154 cancellations and 189 delays impacted Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Gizan, and Najran, with King Khalid Intl in Riyadh emerging as the worst-hit airport, while Saudia was the hardest-hit airline, accounting for over 80% of all cancellations.
Fresh hostilities linked to the Yemen conflict, including Houthi attacks and heightened security concerns, have triggered the flight cancellations across Saudi Arabia today.
Other airlines experiencing substantial disruption include Flynas, Qatar Airways, and Air France.

• King Khalid in Riyadh reported 88 delays and 42 cancellations, making it the country’s most affected airport.
• King Abdulaziz in Jeddah recorded 78 delays and 35 cancellations.
• Saudia remains the airline most affected with 134 cancellations, followed by Flynas, flyadeal, and Qatar Airways.

What Is Causing Disruptions In Saudi Arabia Today?

Heightened regional security tensions linked to Yemen have once again affected air travel across Saudi Arabia.
Tension in Yemen has intensified after an attack on the runway of Sanaa International Airport. According to the internationally recognized government of Yemen, the strike was carried out to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing, while the Iran-supported Houthi movement blamed Saudi Arabia for the attack.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels later announced that they launched missiles and drones targeting Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport in response to the airstrikes they attributed to Saudi Arabia earlier the same day.
Such security developments force airlines and aviation authorities to adjust flight operations, implement additional safety measures, revise aircraft routing, and manage operational constraints.
As searches for “Saudi Arabia attacks Yemen” surge following the latest escalation, regional security concerns have intensified, prompting airlines to adjust operations and contributing to widespread flight cancellations and delays.

Why Abha Airport Has Become a Key Aviation Flashpoint

Located close to the Yemen border, Abha Airport has repeatedly been targeted during the Yemen conflict, including missile and drone attacks in 2019, 2021, 2022, and again during the latest escalation. Its strategic location makes it one of Saudi Arabia’s most closely watched aviation hubs whenever cross-border tensions intensify, often prompting heightened security measures and operational adjustments.

Why Flights Can Be Cancelled Even When Airports Remain Open

An airport does not have to close for flights to be disrupted. During periods of heightened security risk, airlines may cancel or delay services as a precaution, adjust flight schedules, reroute aircraft, reposition crews, or respond to airspace advisories. These operational decisions can ripple across an airline’s network even when airport infrastructure remains fully operational.

Worst-Hit Airports

King Khalid

King Khalid in Riyadh recorded 88 delays and 42 cancellations, the highest figures among all affected airports. Saudia experienced the largest share of disruption here with 40 cancelled flights and 24 delayed services, while Flynas, flyadeal, Qatar Airways, Nile Air, and Air France also faced operational challenges.

King Abdulaziz

King Abdulaziz in Jeddah reported 78 delays and 35 cancellations. Saudia again accounted for the majority of cancelled flights, while Flynas, flyadeal, and Qatar Airways recorded notable delays as schedules were adjusted throughout the day.

Abha Regional

Abha Regional experienced 13 delays and 34 cancellations. Saudia was the most disrupted airline, with additional operational impacts affecting Flynas, flyadeal, FlyDubai, Air Arabia, and Air Arabia Egypt.

Gizan Regional

Gizan Regional recorded 7 delays and 27 cancellations. Saudia accounted for most cancelled flights, while Flynas, flyadeal, and Nile Air also experienced service disruptions.

Najran Domestic

Najran Domestic saw 3 delays and 16 cancellations. Almost all cancellations involved Saudia, with limited delays also affecting Flynas and flyadeal.

Airlines Most Disrupted by Flight Cancellations

Saudia

Saudia recorded the highest level of disruption across Saudi Arabia with 134 flight cancellations and 52 delays, affecting operations in Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Gizan, and Najran.

Flynas

Flynas experienced 10 cancellations and 38 delays, making it the second most disrupted airline as flights across several Saudi airports were affected.

flyadeal

flyadeal recorded 2 cancellations and 37 delays, with delays concentrated at King Abdulaziz and King Khalid while additional disruption extended to Abha, Gizan, and Najran.

Nile Air

Nile Air recorded 2 cancellations and 3 delays, with its disruption primarily affecting operations through Riyadh and Gizan.

What Can Impacted Passengers Do?

• Check your airline’s latest flight status before leaving for the airport.
• Allow extra travel time when departing from airports such as King Khalid, King Abdulaziz, or other major Saudi gateways.
• Stay in close contact with your airline regarding rebooking options if your flight has been cancelled.
• Keep notifications enabled through your airline’s mobile app for schedule updates.
• Retain boarding passes, booking confirmations, and receipts in case reimbursement or compensation policies apply.
• If connecting through airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Gizan, or Najran, verify onward flights before continuing your journey.

Overview of Flight Cancellations And Delays

Passengers traveling through Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Gizan, and Najran have faced significant disruption as airlines continue working to stabilize their schedules.
Saudia has experienced by far the greatest operational impact, while Flynas, flyadeal, Qatar Airways, Nile Air, FlyDubai, and Air France have also dealt with delayed or cancelled services. The concentration of disruption at Riyadh and Jeddah has affected aircraft rotations and passenger connections, while airports in Abha, Gizan, and Najran have also seen substantial schedule changes.
Because Saudi Arabia’s aviation network is closely interconnected, disruptions in Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, and Gizan can quickly affect aircraft availability, crew scheduling, and onward connections throughout the country. Airlines including Saudia, Flynas, flyadeal, Qatar Airways, Nile Air, and FlyDubai continue to adjust operations as they respond to evolving conditions and work to restore normal schedules for travelers.


Data Verification Notice

The Data is extensively curated by me with figures derived from Flightaware dated 13th July 3:55 pm ET

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.