Is it safe to fly through the Middle East? Advice for Irish travellers after Saudi airport attack
Saudi authorities have suspended operations at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport following deadly Houthi attacks. While travel to other Middle Eastern destinations remains unaffected, the incident has prompted international travel warnings and concerns about regional escalation.
Why it matters
The disruption of major aviation hubs and the threat of regional conflict impact international travel safety and diplomatic relations.
Saudi authorities on Monday extended the suspension of operations at the international airport in the capital, Riyadh, after two deadly attacks over the weekend by Yemen ’s Iran -backed Houthis.
Are other airport in the region under threat?
For now, the attacks are limited to Saudi Arabia and Yemen and travel is continuing without interference to other Middle East destinations, including neighbouring United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the popular Dubai holiday resort is located.
Operations at King Khalid international airport, Saudi Arabia’s second-busiest airport after Jeddah, were suspended until next Saturday to “allow for the completion of procedures to ensure the safety and operational readiness of the airport’s facilities”, the Saudi civil aviation authority said in a statement.
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