Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh said on Saturday that flight operations have fully returned to normal following widespread delays that affected multiple domestic and international carriers on Friday, leading to passenger congestion and extended waiting times across terminal areas.

The disruption peaked on Friday morning, when travelers reported delays involving several airlines.

In an earlier statement, the airport said the situation resulted from the overlap of multiple operational factors over the past two days, including the diversion of a number of flights from other airports to Riyadh, as well as scheduled maintenance work within the airport’s fueling system.

These circumstances led to changes in flight schedules, including delays and cancellations affecting some carriers.

In a follow-up clarification, King Khalid International Airport confirmed that all operational issues have since been addressed.

The airport said coordination with airlines and relevant authorities resulted in the completion of all procedures related to affected flights, including those that were canceled or rescheduled.

The total number of impacted flights reached nearly 200 on Friday.

The airport said operational teams worked around the clock to restore schedule stability, stressing that passenger safety remains the top priority and that all actions were taken in line with regulations issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation to protect travelers’ rights.

King Khalid International Airport expressed regret over the inconvenience experienced by passengers and thanked them for their understanding. It added that coordination with airlines is ongoing to ensure travelers receive timely updates, including arrangements related to baggage collection for canceled flights.