Airlines cancel flights to Riyadh after Sanaa attack on airport
SANAA, Oct. 08 (YPA) – Several international airlines have suspended flights to Saudi Arabia as regional military tensions disrupt air travel and Yemen’s ban on air traffic enters its second day.
The airlines that have announced suspensions include KLM, Lufthansa, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Scoot, Air France, Pegasus Airlines, Singapore Airlines, IndiGo, Air India and Philippine Airlines. Some suspensions are expected to remain in place until at least October 11.
Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport is seeing significant flight disruption on October 8, with 169 of 378 scheduled departures cancelled or not operating as of 4:25pm local time, according to aviation analytics company Cirium.
Most of the departing flights cancelled were that of Saudia (69.29%), Flynas (32.97%), Flyadeal (37.04%), Riyadh Air (13.335), Turkish Airlines (100%), Qatar Airways (37.55) and EgyptAir (505).
Sanaa forces has stepped up their deadly campaign of strikes on Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, where booms were heard on Thursday, flights disrupted, and some office staff told to work from home.
Saudia recorded the most disruptions, with 97 of its 140 scheduled departures from Riyadh cancelled, along with 87 of its 136 scheduled arrivals.
Among other Saudi carriers, 30 of flynas’ 91 scheduled departures were affected, as were 20 of flyadeal’s 54 flights and two of Riyadh Air’s 15 flights.
All four Turkish Airlines flights scheduled to depart from Riyadh were cancelled. Three of Qatar Airways’ eight flights and two of EgyptAir’s four flights were affected.
Oman Air and flydubai each had one of three flights affected. Emirates and Etihad also experienced disruptions, although Cirium recorded no cancellations for either airline.
Air India Express cancelled both of its scheduled flights. One of Air India’s two flights was affected, as was one flight each operated by SriLankan Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Yemenia and AJet.
A plume of smoke was still seen rising from an aircraft at Riyadh airport, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing sources.
Brigadier General Yahya Sarie, military spokesperson for the Sanaa forces, renewed a warning to airlines and airport workers in Saudi Arabia, describing it as part of a campaign to lift the blockade and end the war on Yemen.
@E.Y.M