[1] Flights were suspended in March 2015 as a result of the Yemeni civil war which led Al Qaeda militants to take advantage of the turmoil and control Mukalla.

A no-fly zone over Yemen was imposed by the Saudi Arabian-led intervention due to the military conflict.

[2] Mukalla was later liberated from Al Qaeda, but the airport remained closed until the Emirates Red Crescent funded the building of new terminals and renovated the old airport at a cost of AED 25 million.

The Governor of Hadramawt province, Maj Gen Faraj Al Bahsani, said he was optimistic that the return of flights would bring economic benefits.

[3][4] On 9 April 2021, Yemenia, the Yemeni flag carrier, restarted flights to Socotra and Aden.