Flights Cancelled Sweeping Saudi Arabia As Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Gizan, And Sharurah Cancel 208 And Delay 150 Flights, Grounding Saudia, Etihad, And Others

Image generated with Ai

Thousands of passengers left stranded across Saudi Arabia with 208 cancellations and 150 delays reported following the latest security escalation in the country’s south. Abha Airport is continuing to experience the most severe flight cancellations, while King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah experienced the highest number. Saudia emerged as the hardest-hit airline, accounting for nearly 75% of all cancelled flights.
Other airlines experiencing significant disruption include flyadeal, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways. Besides Riyadh and Jeddah, airports in Gizan, and Sharurah also reported widespread cancellations. The continuing disruptions follow security concerns after a Houthi missile and drone attack targeting Abha Airport, prompting airlines to revise operations and governments to maintain or strengthen travel advisories.

• Abha Airport reported the highest number of cancellations with 51 flights cancelled.
• King Khalid Airport in Riyadh saw 54 cancellations and 83 delays, making it the most disrupted airport overall.
• Saudia accounted for 142 cancellations, representing about 68.3% of all cancelled flights.

Why Is Saudi Arabia Continuing To Face Disruptions?

The latest wave of cancellations follows a Houthi missile and drone attack targeting Abha Airport, an incident that has significantly heightened security concerns in southern Saudi Arabia.
The flight disruptions began on Tuesday after Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the attack, describing it as retaliation for earlier airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport. Saudi authorities said their air defence systems intercepted ballistic missiles targeting the kingdom’s southern region, and no casualties were reported.

The incident has prompted several governments to warn travellers.

What The New Canada, UK And US Travel Advisories Mean For Passengers

The latest travel advisories do not mean Saudi Arabia is closed to visitors, but they do signal that travellers should exercise extra caution, particularly in the country’s southwest. Canada now advises against non-essential travel to Abha Airport because of the risk of missile and drone attacks, while also warning against travel near the Yemen border. The United Kingdom continues to advise against travel to border areas with Yemen, and the United States maintains a Level 3 advisory urging travellers to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia, with some southern areas under a stricter “Do Not Travel” warning. For most visitors flying to major hubs such as Riyadh or Jeddah, flights continue to operate, but travellers should closely monitor airline notifications and official government advisories before departure, as schedules can change quickly if the security situation deteriorates.

Saudi Arabia Pressing Ahead With Travel And Immigration Reforms Amid Flight Disruptions

While airlines are continuing to deal with operational disruptions, Saudi Arabia is also moving forward with key policy changes designed to support its long-term economic agenda.
The Saudi Cabinet, led by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, has approved the State Revenues Law and introduced a new training visa for international trainees, a move intended to attract global talent, strengthen workforce development and advance the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.
At the same time, the government is tightening enforcement of immigration regulations.
The Ministry of Interior has reiterated that expatriates who remain in Saudi Arabia after their entry visas expire may face fines of up to SAR50,000, jail terms of up to six months, and deportation.
Authorities have also encouraged the public to report violations related to residency, labor and border security rules.
As searches for “Saudi Arabia visa overstay penalties” surge, Saudi Arabia is reinforcing its message on visa compliance and legal residency.

Worst-Hit Airports Today

King Khalid Airport, Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s busiest airport recorded 83 delays and 54 cancellations, making it the most disrupted airport overall. Saudia was responsible for the majority of cancellations, while Flynas, flyadeal, and Qatar Airways also experienced significant delays as carriers adjusted operations.

King Abdulaziz Airport, Jeddah

The airport handled 67 delays and 60 cancellations, the highest delay count among the affected airports. Saudia, flyadeal, and Flynas recorded the largest number of cancellations.

Abha Airport, Abha

Abha recorded 51 cancellations, the highest cancellation total among the affected airports outside the kingdom’s largest hubs. Most cancelled flights belonged to Saudia, followed by flyadeal, Flynas, and FlyDubai, reflecting the direct impact of the regional security situation.

Gizan Airport, Gizan

Operations remained heavily disrupted with 39 cancellations.

Airlines Seeing the Biggest Flight Cancellation Impact

Saudia

The national carrier experienced the largest operational impact with 142 cancellations and 33 delays, making it by far the most affected airline as services across multiple Saudi cities were adjusted.

flyadeal

flyadeal recorded 36 cancellations and 26 delays, with disruptions concentrated at Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, and Gizan.

Flynas

Flynas reported 18 cancellations and 24 delays, affecting passengers travelling through Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, and Gizan.

What Can Affected Travellers Do?

• Check your airline’s latest flight status before leaving for the airport.
• Allow additional travel time, as airports such as King Khalid Airport and King Abdulaziz Airport may experience longer queues and operational changes.
• Stay in contact with your airline regarding rebooking or refund options if your flight has been cancelled.
• Keep notifications enabled through your airline’s mobile app or SMS service.
• If travelling through airports in southern Saudi Arabia, remain alert for official operational updates and security notices.
• Monitor announcements from airport authorities and your airline before heading to the terminal.
• Consider flexible travel arrangements if your itinerary includes connections through affected Saudi cities.

Overview of Flight Cancellations Across Saudi Arabia

The latest disruption has affected aviation across several key Saudi Arabian cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Gizan, and Sharurah. While airports in Riyadh and Jeddah continued handling large volumes of delayed traffic, Abha and Gizan experienced particularly heavy cancellation rates as airlines responded to the evolving security situation.
Among airlines, Saudia experienced the greatest operational impact, followed by flyadeal, Flynas, and FlyDubai. Other carriers, including Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Etihad Airways, Air France, Air Cairo, Air Arabia, Berniq Airways, and Nile Air, also reported operational disruption at one or more affected airports.
With security concerns remaining elevated and airlines continuing to revise schedules, travellers flying to or through Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Gizan, and Sharurah should expect the possibility of further timetable changes and closely monitor updates from their airlines before travelling.

Data Verification Notice

The Data is extensively curated by me with figures derived from Flightaware dated 15th July 2:13 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