Riyadh airport remains closed as coalition cites 20 Houthi attacks in October

 *Conceptual illustration of an empty Riyadh airport terminal; it is not a photograph of the incident.* King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh remains closed while Saudi authorities review safety and operations. The current aviation notice runs through Saturday, October 17, at 21:00 UTC. That is the notice’s expiry time, not a confirmed reopening. The closure was announced by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation through state news agency SPA; [Reuters reported the extended closure and airline suspensions](https://www.investing.com/news/economy-news/saudi-arabias-riyadh-airport-to-stay-shut-this-week-amid-houthi-attacks--reuters-4946070). Flight dates vary by carrier, so passengers should check directly with their airline. A new coalition briefing on October 15 adds a claimed running total: spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said the Houthis had launched 20 attacks on King Khalid International Airport since October 1. [Reuters’ report on the briefing](https://theprint.in/world/saudi-led-coalition-says-houthis-attempted-to-attack-dozens-of-saudi-facilities/3073089/) attributes 17 deaths and 333 injuries to the Riyadh airport attacks. [The Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-yemen-houthis-rebels-interview-bb1950959d1118d790556584d2b51f75) separately quoted a Saudi official citing at least 19 deaths in attacks across the kingdom. Those figures have different stated scopes and are official claims, not an independent casualty audit. “Twenty attacks” also does not mean 20 direct impacts: Saudi authorities have reported interceptions, while the Houthis have claimed some targets. The airport’s closure follows deadly strikes on its terminals and leaves travelers facing cancellations and uncertain onward plans. On October 14, the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted another ballistic missile heading toward Riyadh; the public report did not establish that the airport was its target or that it caused damage there. The current notice gives no guaranteed restart time after October 17, and GACA has not announced when its safety review will end. For travel, rely on direct airline and airport updates; the notice’s end time alone does not confirm that flights will resume. ~worldnews