Air India, Akasa Air and IndiGo suspend Riyadh flights after airport blast reports
Several major airlines have suspended flights to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following reports of explosions and Houthi-claimed missile attacks on the city's airport. The move comes amid heightened regional security concerns.
Why it matters
The disruption of international travel to a major capital highlights the ongoing instability and security threats in the Middle East.
NEW DELHI: Air India, Akasa Air and IndiGo have temporarily suspended or curtailed flights to Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, following reports of explosions, including a loud blast at the city’s international airport, on Thursday.Akasa Air suspended flights to and from Riyadh through Saturday, while IndiGo cancelled its Riyadh services through Friday.Air India said a flight from Delhi to Riyadh returned to Delhi on Thursday and was subsequently cancelled “in the interest of safety”. The airline also suspended all flights to and from Riyadh until Saturday.Lufthansa Group, the German aviation company that owns Lufthansa Airlines and other European carriers, said its airlines would suspend flights to Riyadh through October 16 “due to current developments in the Middle East.”Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen has claimed responsibility for the latest attack on Riyadh’s airport, saying a ballistic missile had caused damage, but provided no evidence.
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