Etihad, Qatar halt Saudi flights after airport attack

Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways halted Saudi flights after an October 10 airport attack killed 12, widening disruption across Gulf travel.

Saudi authorities said the attack on King Khalid International Airport injured more than 300 people. Etihad canceled flights to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, while Qatar Airways temporarily suspended services to Riyadh and Dammam.

Riyadh routes face suspension risk

The Houthis have claimed attacks on Saudi targets as the conflict has escalated. Officials said the airport strike added direct pressure to civil aviation, with the immediate effect falling on passenger flows into the kingdom’s main business and pilgrimage corridors.

For markets, the first channel is geopolitical risk rather than a confirmed commodity shock. If attacks remain concentrated on aviation and urban targets, airlines face schedule disruption, insurance reviews and rerouting costs; if strikes broaden toward energy infrastructure, the transmission would move more directly into oil prices and regional risk premia.

The specific company impact is clearest for Etihad and Qatar Airways, which must weigh passenger safety, aircraft availability and regulatory guidance before restoring service. The wider aviation sector will watch whether other Gulf carriers follow with route suspensions or keep operating under tighter security checks.

By October 14, airline schedule notices should indicate whether the suspensions remain limited to selected Saudi routes or widen into a longer regional disruption.