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Wednesday, 14 October 2026
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Riyadh Air moves Boeing 787s away from capital after airport closure

Riyadh Air has evacuated its new Boeing 787 aircraft from King Khalid International Airport after safety concerns and flight suspensions forced the facility to shut down.

FTMQ Travel, written by our newsroom0 views

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Picture: Paddley Too

Riyadh Air has suspended all operations and evacuated its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft away from King Khalid International Airport. Paddley Too, PYOK, and AeroXplorer all reported that the startup airline relocated the widebody aircraft due to ongoing fears of Houthi ballistic missile strikes targeting the capital city. [1][8][9]

The evacuation comes as King Khalid International Airport suspended flights and shut down its facilities. Arabian Business reported that Riyadh Air, Qatar Airways, and Gulf Air suspended services, while Etihad cancelled flights through October 19. The Indian Express added that carriers such as IndiGo and Akasa Air cancelled Saudi flights, stating the airport would remain closed until Saturday. [1][2][6]

King Khalid International Airport previously faced aerial threats during the 2020 Riyadh drone and missile attack, when Houthi rebels targeted the facility alongside government buildings. The airport also serves as a hub for flag carrier Saudia, which plans to vacate the facility by 2030 to accommodate Riyadh Air. [10][11]

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In short

  • Riyadh Air suspended all operations and relocated its Boeing 787 Dreamliners out of Riyadh.
  • King Khalid International Airport shuttered operations following threats of Houthi ballistic missiles.
  • Etihad cancelled flights to Riyadh through October 19, while other international carriers suspended services.

Sources

Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.

  1. [1]Riyadh Air Evacuates Brand-New Boeing 787 Dreamliners Out of Riyadh Over Houthi Missile FearsPaddley Too, 7h ago (the report this story comes from)
  2. [2]Full list: IndiGo, Akasa Air and other airlines cancel Saudi flights as Riyadh airport shut until SaturdayThe Indian Express, 19h ago
  3. [3]Southwest Long-Haul Flights Could Use Boeing 787 JetsFTN news, 12h ago
  4. [4]Airbus A350 Vs. Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Which Has The Quieter Cabin?Simple Flying, 1d ago
  5. [5]Bedbugs Infest Qantas Boeing 787, Forcing Flight CancellationSimple Flying, 13h ago
  6. [6]Riyadh airport closure: Etihad cancels flights until October 19 as Qatar Airways, Gulf Air and Riyadh Air suspend servicesArabian Business, 1d ago
  7. [7]Qantas Boeing 787 Grounded By Bed Bugs, And It Cost The Airline DearlyOne Mile at a Time, 14h ago
  8. [8]Riyadh Air Evacuates Brand-New Boeing 787 Dreamliners Out of Riyadh Over Houthi Missile FearsPYOK, 7h ago
  9. [9]Riyadh Air Relocates New Boeing 787 Dreamliners Away From Capital Amid Houthi Missile ThreatAeroXplorer, 3h ago

Background

  1. [10]Saudia on Wikipedia
  2. [11]2020 Riyadh drone and missile attack on Wikipedia
  3. [12]Boeing 787 Dreamliner on Wikipedia

Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 12 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.

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