Aden (South24)

Air traffic at Aden International Airport resumed on Monday (December 8), following a temporary suspension of Yemenia Airways flights that disrupted the travel of dozens of patients and passengers in the early morning hours.

A source familiar with the matter told South24 that the suspension of Yemenia flights was related to the implementation of certain external evacuation operations, without providing further details.

Saudi Arabia had carried out evacuation operations for its forces from Aden International Airport, Al-Ghaydah Airport, and positions it had been stationed at in Aden in recent hours, according to aviation sources who spoke to South24.

The source noted that the canceled flights included routes: Riyadh–Aden, Aden–Jeddah, and Aden–Cairo.

He added that the suspension “was not caused by a closure of airspace over South Yemen,” confirming that air traffic at Aden Airport “did not come to a complete halt,” referring to the landing and takeoff of an International Committee of the Red Cross aircraft earlier in the day.

Air navigation sources at the airport confirmed that the issuance of takeoff and landing permits for aircraft operating in Yemen remains under Saudi authority, which explains the temporary suspension related to permits.

Later, sources at Aden Airport said that Yemenia Airways had rearranged its flight schedule and would resume full operations to and from Aden in the coming hours.

For its part, Yemenia stated in a brief announcement that “all flights scheduled for Monday have been reorganized in accordance with the approved operational schedule,” adding that passengers would be notified of updated flight times.

An official at the Ministry of Transport said the suspension “was due to technical reasons beyond control,” offering the ministry’s apologies to passengers for the delays experienced at the airport.

These developments come after widespread confusion in the halls of Aden Airport, as the relevant authorities work to gradually normalize air traffic and restore the regular flight schedule.