Airlines Cancel Flights to Riyadh After Houthi Attack on Airport

Airlines are canceling flights to Riyadh after the Houthis struck two airports in Saudi Arabia in recent days, killing three people and injuring dozens.

Singapore Air postponed the launch of its services until March 28, citing the conflict in the Middle East. Philippine Airlines canceled flights to the capital until at least Oct. 11.

Saudia, the country’s national carrier; Egyptair; Indigo; and Air India Ltd. canceled dozens of flights out of Riyadh on Thursday in the aftermath of the attacks.

Read More: Houthis Kill Three in Strikes on Saudi Arabian Airports ·

Operations at King Khalid International Airport have shut down for several hours and restarted multiple times during the past few days as incoming attacks from Yemen make it unsafe for planes to land or take off from there. Abha airport in the southwest also came under fire.

Last week, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. extended cancellation of its flights to Dubai and Riyadh through Jan. 31.

Several American and European carriers still avoid flying to the Middle East since Iran started targeting countries in the Gulf earlier this year.

Disruptions over large swaths of the region have become common since the start of hostilities between Israel and neighboring nations three years ago. During that time, Saudi Arabia’s airspace has become a vital corridor for flights diverting from riskier skies over Iran, Jordan, Iraq and Syria.