Saudi air cargo capacity falls 33% after Riyadh airport shutdown

Saudi Arabia lost almost a third of its international air cargo capacity over three days after King Khalid International Airport was declared unavailable until 9 p.m. UTC on 17 October, with combined inbound and outbound capacity falling to 7,292 tonnes, a decline of 3,537 tonnes, and Riyadh’s capacity dropping 99% from 3,925 tonnes to 26 tonnes.

International airlines responded by suspending or cancelling services: Air France‑KLM halted Riyadh flights until the end of October, Etihad cancelled Abu Dhabi–Riyadh flights until 19 October, and Delta postponed its planned Atlanta–Riyadh launch from 23 October to March 2027. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation extended the suspension while safety and operational checks were completed, without setting a reopening date.

The airport remained closed through 17 October as authorities continued assessments, and no new reopening timetable was announced.