Yemenia (IY, Aden) and all other carriers serving the western Yemeni city of Aden have been forced to suspend operations there after supporters of ousted former president Ali Abdullah Saleh clashed with security forces loyal to current president Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi at the airfield last week.

The Associated Press reports Saleh loyalists encountered stiff resistance from government forces during their attack which centred on a security forces' base adjacent to the Aden airport's eastern section. During the gun battle, some 100 passengers onboard a Yemenia flight to Cairo International were forced to disembark from the aircraft and take cover in the airport terminal.

The attack left at least five people dead and thirteen others wounded while at least two shells are reported to have landed within the airport's grounds.

Other carriers affected by the closure of the airport include flydubai (FZ, Dubai International), Royal Jordanian (RJ, Amman Queen Alia), and Turkish Airlines (TK, Istanbul Airport).