Thousands of Indian travellers heading to Saudi Arabia will have to wait a little longer. Air India on Friday, October 16, said all its flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam will stay cancelled until October 20, 2026, as the security situation in the Kingdom remains tense after a string of drone and missile attacks blamed on Yemen's Houthi group. IndiGo and Akasa Air have also extended their own suspensions, with some routes now shut until October 24.
The airline had earlier cancelled its Saudi services only until October 17. The new extension means the Gulf corridor, one of the busiest for Indian workers, pilgrims and families, faces at least another long weekend of disruption.
What Air India Said
In a travel advisory posted on X, Air India said all its flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah "stand cancelled" until October 20. The airline said the safety of passengers and crew is its top priority and that it is closely monitoring developments before deciding when operations can resume safely.
Passengers whose bookings are affected are being offered a full refund. Air India has asked travellers to contact its customer support for rebooking or refund help rather than heading to the airport.
IndiGo and Akasa Air Also Extend Suspensions
Air India is not alone. On Thursday, October 15, IndiGo said it had extended the cancellation of its flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Medina until October 24. The airline said the decision followed an assessment of the evolving situation in Saudi Arabia and that it is reaching out to affected passengers using the contact details given at the time of booking.
Akasa Air, meanwhile, has suspended all flights to and from Riyadh until October 24, and to and from Jeddah until October 21. The airline said it is continuously monitoring the situation in the region. Akasa has offered affected passengers a full refund to the original mode of payment within seven days, or the option to reschedule without any extra charge.
Air India Express, the group's low-cost arm, had earlier cancelled its Saudi flights until October 17. Travellers booked on it should check the airline's latest advisory before travelling.
Saudi Flight Suspensions at a Glance
| Airline | Routes and cancelled until |
|---|---|
| Air India | Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam – October 20, 2026 |
| IndiGo | Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina – October 24, 2026 |
| Akasa Air (Riyadh) | October 24, 2026 |
| Akasa Air (Jeddah) | October 21, 2026 |
| Air India Express | Earlier cancelled until October 17; check latest advisory |
| Refunds | Full refund offered by Air India and Akasa Air; IndiGo contacting passengers |
Why Flights Are Grounded
The cancellations follow a sharp escalation in hostilities between the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Over the past week, drones and missiles have targeted civilian infrastructure inside the Kingdom, and Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport has come under attack more than once.
The October 10 strike on the Riyadh airport was the deadliest so far. The death toll rose to 13, and the Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed that an Indian national later died of his injuries. Eleven other Indians were among those injured. India strongly condemned the attacks, and the Indian ambassador later attended the funeral of the victim.
Since then, the region has seen more incidents, including a missile hit on an Aramco building in Dhahran and a cruise missile intercepted over Medina, which the Houthis have denied firing. Airlines have responded by pulling flights while they assess the risk to aircraft and crew.
What It Means for Indian Travellers
Saudi Arabia is home to one of the largest Indian communities abroad, and flights between the two countries carry workers, families, business travellers and pilgrims every day. With three Indian carriers now pausing services on these routes, many travellers will have to rethink plans made weeks in advance, especially those flying for work contracts or family events.
For now, passengers have three practical options: take a full refund, move the booking to a later date once services resume, or look for connecting routes through other Gulf hubs where airlines are still flying, keeping in mind that those routes can also change at short notice.
Steps to Follow If Your Flight Is Affected
- Check your booking status on the airline's website or app before leaving for the airport.
- Make sure your phone number and email in the booking are correct, as airlines are sending updates directly.
- Choose between a full refund or free rescheduling, depending on your airline's policy.
- If you booked through a travel agent or portal, ask them to process the refund, as it usually goes back through the same channel.
- Indians already in Saudi Arabia should follow advisories from the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah.
What Happens Next
Airlines have said they will review the situation before restoring flights, and further extensions cannot be ruled out if the attacks continue. Because each carrier has set a different date, travellers should not assume that all services will restart together. The next update from Air India is likely closer to October 20, while IndiGo and Akasa have more time on their current suspensions.
Until the skies over Saudi Arabia are considered safe again, the message from the airlines is simple: check before you travel, and keep an eye on official advisories.
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