Sanaa unveils key details of air blockade disrupting int’l airport

SANAA, Dec. 21 (YPA) – Saudi Arabia is behind the continued disruption of Sanaa International Airport and the imposition of an air embargo on Yemen.

in a statement, Sultan Faraj, spokesman for the Sanaa-based Civil Aviation Authority, said that Saudi Arabia bears full responsibility for paralyzing civil aviation traffic and disrupting airline operations.

He added that the operation of the airport is still subject to the decision of the Saudi-led coalition, in violation of the freedom of air navigation, pointing out that the coalition controls Aden and Sieyun airports and determines travel destinations and airlines.

For his part, air transport director, Mazen al-Sufi, said that Yemen has lost about 96% of its air traffic due to the blockade, clarifying that the passenger numbers at Sanaa airport in 2024 did not exceed 152,000 passengers, compared to over two million passengers in 2014.

Sanaa airport director, Khalid al-Shaif, said also a humanitarian medical plane had been prevented from landing for over a week, blaming the Saudi-led coalition for disrupting the airport.

The concerned authorities described the closure of Sanaa airport is a political decision used as a pressure tool that has affected millions of Yemenis.

AA