Houthi strikes halt new Saudi airline at home base

Riyadh Air, the Saudi Arabian luxury carrier that launched commercial operations this summer, has suspended nearly all flights from its home base in Riyadh. The airline evacuated its fleet and halted operations for two weeks due to Houthi attacks, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The disruptions force remaining services to land in Jeddah or at a smaller airport located 200 miles from the capital. Passengers on these flights complete a one-hour ground journey to reach Riyadh. The carrier had been positioned as a high-end option for wealthy tourists, mirroring the business models of airlines from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

The Houthi conflict also impacts Saudia, the state flag carrier. A strike on October 8 killed one of its pilots and destroyed an aircraft, contributing to wider operational disruptions for the airline that serves oil workers and pilgrimage travelers.

Staff at Riyadh Air have begun volunteering at hospitals treating victims of the airport strikes. The company is moving its aircraft away from Riyadh while it assesses the situation. The airline must renew its war-risk insurance policy in November.

Iranian officials have told mediators that Tehran may target civilian infrastructure, including airports, if the United States or Israel resume strikes. Despite the current halts, Riyadh Air plans to resume semiregular scheduling using an airport in Al Qassim province. This location requires a 4.5-hour bus ride to Riyadh and will service routes to London, Islamabad, and Cairo.