Flydubai suspends flights to three Saudi cities amid Houthi missile strikes

Dubai-based carrier Flydubai has halted all flights to Abha, Dammam and Riyadh until at least 1 November, citing ongoing Houthi attacks on Saudi airports.

The airline confirmed the cancellations on Friday, saying they cover all services up to and including 1 November. A Flydubai spokesperson said the company expects further disruptions to its scheduled operations in Saudi Arabia because of the security situation.

Passenger advisory

“We continue to monitor the situation closely and will update our customers through our official channels regarding any amendments to our flight schedules,” the spokesperson said.

Passengers are urged to check their flight status regularly and ensure their contact details are up to date so they receive the latest information, the spokesperson added.

Missile attacks

Saudi authorities dealt with a wave of Houthi missile attacks throughout Thursday. The kingdom’s air defences intercepted and destroyed at least two ballistic missiles heading towards Riyadh.

The Saudi-led coalition said it had also intercepted a cruise missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia towards the kingdom’s western region during the night.

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence reported late Thursday that falling debris from the two ballistic missiles intercepted over Riyadh injured a Saudi citizen and caused material damage to a house and a vehicle. The Civil Defence spokesperson said the missiles were launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia and that authorities had taken the necessary procedures.

Other destinations still served

Despite the cancellations, Flydubai continues to operate flights to several other Saudi cities. These include Jeddah, Taif, Tabuk, Madina, Al-Qassim and Ha’il.