Missile attacks on civilian airports in Saudi Arabia have prompted British travel warnings and disrupted air connections, casting new uncertainty over the kingdom's tourism ambitions.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised against nonessential travel to Riyadh and other major cities.
The Houthis of Yemen have warned airlines and passengers to avoid Saudi airports except Medina.
At least 14 people have been killed and hundreds injured in the attacks, according to the source report.
Travel Warnings and Flight Cancellations
The FCDO's restrictions cover central Saudi Arabia, an area approximately three times the size of Britain, and extend to Jeddah and Dammam following additional warnings issued on Sunday night.
Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport handles an average of 110,000 passengers daily, making it a major aviation hub in the region.
All flights to and from the Saudi capital remain canceled, including Riyadh Air services between Riyadh and London Heathrow, as authorities contend with damage and concerns about further strikes.
The disruption comes as Saudi Arabia pursues its Vision 2030 strategy to expand tourism and diversify its economy.
According to the report, a planned Red Sea resort development is expected to provide 8,000 rooms across 50 hotels by the end of the decade, while Riyadh Air was established to compete with major regional carriers.
International flight routes are also changing as airlines avoid Saudi airspace.
Qatar Airways Flight 23 from Doha to Manchester traveled approximately 700 miles north of Saudi Arabia on Saturday before taking a route that briefly crossed Saudi airspace and then switched to Iraqi airspace on Sunday.
British Airways has also adjusted its Mumbai-to-London route.
Its Flight 138 crossed Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but subsequent services avoided the kingdom by taking a more northerly path over Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.
The changes add pressure to an already restricted international aviation network.
The most direct Mumbai-to-London route crosses Iran and Ukraine, whose airspace is unavailable to airlines, according to the report.
Additional restrictions and longer flight paths could complicate connections between Europe and Asia.
Saudi Arabia's reliance on air travel extends beyond international tourism.
The Riyadh-to-Jeddah route ranks among the world's five busiest air routes, while some Saudi citizens stranded in neighboring countries, including Kuwait, are being transported by bus on journeys lasting 10 hours instead of taking flights that would normally take about one hour.
British travelers are being advised to consider leaving Saudi Arabia by land for neighboring countries such as Bahrain, Qatar or Jordan before taking onward flights.
However, Saudia's service between London Heathrow and Jeddah continues to operate normally, according to the report.
The FCDO's warnings also affect British visitors traveling for religious purposes and expatriates living in the kingdom.
Many British visitors come to perform Umrah or Hajj in Mecca, while thousands of UK expatriates work in Saudi Arabia.
Despite recently relaxed visa rules, the country has attracted relatively few British leisure tourists.
Before the attacks, prospective visitors' concerns often centered on Saudi Arabia's human rights record and its prohibition on alcohol.
The airport strikes have added personal safety to the issues facing the kingdom's tourism industry as it seeks to attract international travelers.
Saudi Arabia has also established a major presence at London's World Travel Market, a large travel industry exhibition scheduled to begin on November 3.
The event will take place as the kingdom faces uncertainty over travel access and its plans to position itself as a leading global tourism destination.
