Abha Airport Attack Triggers Flight Cancellations Across Region

Flights to and from Abha International Airport were cancelled across the UAE and Saudi Arabia on July 13th and 14th following an attack on the airport that disrupted regional air travel.

According to Dubai Airports, two flydubai departures from Dubai International Airport Terminal 2 to Abha scheduled for July 14th were cancelled. Saudia also suspended services between Abha and Riyadh and Jeddah, while flynas cancelled flights between Abha and Jeddah. Several inbound flights from other Saudi cities were also cancelled.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed multiple cancellations beginning on Monday evening and continuing into Tuesday as airlines responded to the security situation.

The disruptions followed an attack claimed by Yemen's Houthi movement, which said it had targeted Abha International Airport using ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. In a televised statement, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree also warned airlines against operating flights to Saudi Arabia until what the group described as the blockade on Sanaa International Airport is lifted.