Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed an aircraft taking off from Riyadh airport early Sunday and heading to Jeddah, a major Saudi city on the Red Sea coast, signalling a resumption of flight activity after the prolonged disruption.
Amid the uncertainty, passengers were advised to contact their respective airlines before travelling to the airport to confirm their booking status, departure times and any changes to flight schedules.
The resumption came despite warnings from the Iran-backed Houthi movement, which threatened further attacks and maintained that the airport remained a potential target.
The group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, described the airport as still being “unsafe” and a “military target”, underscoring the security concerns surrounding the facility as the wider regional conflict continues to intensify.
The Houthis have carried out successive waves of attacks targeting Riyadh, including its airport, as tensions have escalated across the region. One reported attack on the facility earlier this month allegedly killed 13 people and injured more than 300, although the circumstances and casualty figures require independent verification.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthis announced early Sunday that it had intercepted and shot down two drones in the Riyadh area, highlighting the continuing threat posed by aerial attacks.
The developments have placed Saudi Arabia in an increasingly delicate position as the broader confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran continues to widen.
Saudi Arabia, a key US ally in the Gulf, has faced growing security concerns as the conflict threatens to spill across borders and disrupt critical infrastructure, transport networks and regional economic activity.
The latest developments also underline the vulnerability of major aviation hubs to military escalation, particularly in a region where airports and other strategic facilities have increasingly become potential targets.
Although the resumption of flights offers some relief to travellers affected by the suspension, continuing threats and reports of drone interceptions mean that uncertainty remains over the stability of airport operations.
Passengers have therefore been urged to verify their travel arrangements directly with airlines as authorities and aviation operators navigate the evolving security situation.