**Houthi missile and drone strikes on King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh, beginning in early October 2026, triggered the closure and ongoing flight disruptions.** Multiple attacks, including a deadly strike on October 10 that killed at least 13 people and injured over 300, prompted Saudi authorities to suspend operations for safety inspections and facility assessments. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) extended the full closure through 21:00 GMT on October 17, with the airport targeted repeatedly—reportedly at least 20 times—raising questions about structural readiness and airspace security. **Airlines responded with widespread cancellations and extended suspensions**, affecting hundreds of daily departures across Saudi Arabia (nearly 50% disrupted at peak) and forcing rerouting via other hubs like Jeddah. International carriers including Lufthansa Group, Air France-KLM, Etihad, and others paused services well into late October or beyond, while aviation authorities such as the FAA issued caution advisories. Reopening hinges on completed inspections, restored operational systems, and reduced threat levels, with any resumption viewed partly as a signal of resilience. **Trader focus centers on whether safety checks finish and the security environment stabilizes enough for at least 50 departures shortly after the NOTAM expiration**, amid uncertainty over potential further extensions or delays from continued Houthi activity. Scheduled events like ongoing regional tensions or additional strikes could influence timelines, while successful resumption would depend on Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmation and airline repositioning.