Saudi air cargo capacity falls by a third as Houthi strikes close Riyadh's airport until at least Oct. 17
Riyadh's freighter and widebody capacity has dropped 99% and a string of airlines have suspended Saudi and Gulf services, so teams moving parts, pharma or project cargo into the kingdom need road and sea backups this month.
Article summary
- Why it matters: If you supply customers, plants or projects in Saudi Arabia by air, the main gateway is effectively shut and the alternatives are slower. Spare parts, medical supplies and time-critical components bound for Riyadh need rerouting now, and contracts that promise air delivery into the kingdom may need force majeure or route-change terms checked.
- What to do first: Identify Saudi-bound and Gulf-routed air shipments. Include inbound parts for Saudi operations and any lanes that transit Dubai or Doha.
- Set a reroute plan with forwarders. Agree whether shipments move via Jeddah or Dammam airports with road on-forwarding, via Muscat or Dubai by truck, or by sea, and who approves the extra cost.
- −33%
- Saudi air cargo capacity over 72 hours vs. a week earlier (Rotate)
- −99%
- Riyadh freighter and widebody capacity, 3,925 to 26 tonnes
- Oct. 17
- earliest reopening listed for King Khalid International
- 10–12 days
- landside delays at Jeddah port after discharge (Expeditors)
The details
Capacity. Combined inbound and outbound air cargo capacity in Saudi Arabia on freighters and widebody passenger aircraft fell 33% over 72 hours compared with a week earlier, from 10,829 tonnes to 7,292 tonnes, according to Rotate data reported by The Loadstar on Oct. 13. At Riyadh, capacity fell 99%, from 3,925 tonnes to 26 tonnes. Riyadh’s King Khalid International is the kingdom’s busiest cargo airport, handling 576,600 tonnes in 2025, against 458,900 tonnes at Jeddah.
The closure. A notice to airmen lists King Khalid International as unavailable “due to precautionary measures” until 9 p.m. UTC on Oct. 17. Saudi aviation authorities extended the suspension for safety and operational checks and gave no reopening date. Strikes on the airport over the past week have killed at least 18 people and injured more than 300, and more than 3,000 flights from Saudi airports were canceled or listed as not operating, AP reported, citing Cirium. The Houthis have threatened further attacks on Saudi airports.
Airline suspensions. According to Expeditors and The Loadstar:
| Carrier | Status reported |
|---|---|
| Saudia Cargo | Riyadh flights suspended |
| Emirates | All flights to and from Saudi Arabia suspended (Oct. 9) |
| Air France-KLM | Riyadh suspended through end of October |
| Lufthansa | Riyadh suspended through Oct. 16 |
| Etihad | Abu Dhabi–Riyadh canceled until Oct. 19 |
| Cathay Pacific | Dubai and Riyadh passenger flights canceled through Jan. 31, 2027 |
| China Cargo | Riyadh, Dubai and Abu Dhabi suspended |
| Cargolux | All Middle East stops suspended except Muscat |
| Delta | Atlanta–Riyadh launch moved from Oct. 23 to March 2027 |
Knock-on effects. Expeditors reports Jeddah port is congested, with landside delays of about 10 to 12 days after discharge, and some carriers limiting land-bridge deliveries from Jeddah to the upper Gulf. It suggests Khor Fakkan and Fujairah as alternatives and says road freight is available from Saudi airports, Muscat and Dubai, with rate pressure rising across the region. EASA advises avoiding two areas of Saudi airspace, which can lengthen routings and reduce payloads.
Wider air market. Freightos noted that Saudi Arabia is not a major transshipment hub, so global rates may not feel the closures broadly. Its global air benchmark is still 33% above a year ago, and jet fuel was up 108% year on year as of Oct. 2, The Loadstar reported. Cathay Cargo said suspended Middle East services hit European freighter routings that had used Dubai as a stop, with direct flights carrying payload penalties.
What procurement teams should do
- Identify Saudi-bound and Gulf-routed air shipments. Include inbound parts for Saudi operations and any lanes that transit Dubai or Doha.
- Set a reroute plan with forwarders. Agree whether shipments move via Jeddah or Dammam airports with road on-forwarding, via Muscat or Dubai by truck, or by sea, and who approves the extra cost.
- Add lead time for sea alternatives. Build in Jeddah’s 10 to 12 days of landside delay, or price the UAE east-coast ports Expeditors suggests.
- Check contract terms. Review force majeure, change-of-route and delivery-date clauses in supply agreements with Saudi customers and with carriers.
- Watch for war-risk and fuel surcharges. Ask carriers to show any new surcharge separately and tie it to an end date or review point.
What to watch next
- Oct. 17. Whether King Khalid International reopens when the current notice expires, or the suspension is extended again.
- Airline return dates. Lufthansa (Oct. 16), Etihad (Oct. 19) and Air France-KLM (end of October) will show whether carriers judge the risk to be easing.
- A wider campaign. AP reports the White House is weighing joining Saudi strikes on the Houthis, which could extend disruption to Gulf airspace and Red Sea shipping.
The bigger picture
Middle East logistics has been disrupted in waves since the U.S.–Iran war closed the Strait of Hormuz to normal traffic, and the Saudi–Houthi conflict adds another front. The same attacks hit Aramco’s headquarters this week as the IEA warned diesel will stay tight well into 2027.
For procurement teams, the practical lesson is the same one ocean shippers learned in the Red Sea: a single gateway is a single point of failure. Qualify at least one alternative routing for each critical Gulf lane before the next closure, not during it.
Questions procurement teams are asking
Is Riyadh airport open for cargo?
A notice to airmen lists King Khalid International as unavailable until 9 p.m. UTC on Oct. 17, and Saudi aviation authorities extended the suspension without giving a reopening date, according to The Loadstar.
How can companies ship goods to Saudi Arabia while Riyadh is closed?
Forwarders are using road transport from other Saudi airports, Muscat and Dubai, and sea routes, though Jeddah port has landside delays of about 10 to 12 days and Expeditors suggests Khor Fakkan and Fujairah as alternatives.
Will the Saudi disruption raise global air freight rates?
Probably not broadly. Freightos noted Saudi Arabia is not a major transshipment hub, though jet fuel up 108% year on year and Gulf airspace restrictions are adding cost and payload limits on some routes.
How we reported this
This story draws on 5 sources, listed below, and reflects figures as reported on October 15, 2026. The sections on why it matters and what procurement teams should do are Procurement Signal analysis. It is not legal or financial advice. See our editorial standards.
Sources
- The Loadstar — Saudi air cargo capacity drops amid disruption from Riyadh shutdown (Oct. 13, 2026)
- The Loadstar — Saudi disruption squeezes air cargo capacity as peak looms (Oct. 9, 2026)
- Expeditors — Middle East operational update: Saudi Arabia air cargo disruptions (Oct. 9, 2026)
- AJOT — Freightos weekly update: attacks disrupt Saudi air cargo; China-Europe air rates slump
- AP via DTN — Houthis struck Saudi oil giant Aramco's headquarters overnight, regional officials say
