Air India has been forced to cancel all flights to and from three major Saudi Arabian cities, Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah, until October 20, 2026, because of the deterioration of security in the region. The airline says it will refund all passengers affected by the cancellations and will assess when flights can go back into operation once they are safe.
The airline said the extension was announced on October 16 and reiterated that the safety and security of passengers and crew remain its top priority. It would have followed a shorter-lived suspension of services that had begun on October 13. There has been an ongoing security threat, and Air India would rather keep the affected routes suspended but not resume services before conditions are safe. The airline has not yet set the dates for resumption of flights beyond the current cancellation date of October 20.
The suspension will be available for flights to and from Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia; Jeddah, which is a major commercial centre and gateway for pilgrims going to the Kingdom; as well as Dammam, one of the most important cities in the Eastern Province.
The flights may affect flights and passengers who are not only Indian expatriates but also workers, families and business travellers. The cancellations will also affect travel plans for those who leave or arrive at the airport at a scheduled time in the period they are expected to do so. Passengers have to check their booking information with the airline or travel agent and contact the airline or their travel agent once they reach the airport.
In addition, the cancellations are amid security concerns following recent attacks on Saudi aviation infrastructure and continued instability in the wider Middle East. Recent reports have identified risks to civilian airports and aviation operations, which have led airlines to re-examine their schedules and prioritise passenger safety.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation has also condemned attacks targeting civilian aviation infrastructure and raised concerns about the threats such incidents pose to aviation safety. This is why airlines are looking at regional developments and not knowing when affected routes can resume normal flights.
If all flights were cancelled and the customer’s bookings had not been refunded, the refund option does exist. On the other hand, if they were booked directly with the airline, they could book through its customer support or booking management service, and if they bought tickets from travel agents or online travel platforms, they would need to say so. Travellers are also supposed to check if they need to make any arrangements for connecting flights, accommodation or any other travel.
Passengers should not assume services will resume automatically on October 21. The October 20 deadline represents the current time of cancellation, and any extension or resumption will only be made when further security checks are made and an official announcement is made by the airline. Travellers planning to travel after this deadline need to monitor the status of their flights and ensure the airline has their phone number and email address when they arrive so that changes can be made on schedule.
The disruption is not limited to Air India. Other Indian carriers have also made changes to their Saudi Arabia schedules given the security situation. IndiGo has extended cancellations affecting Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah to October 24, while Air India Express has extended its suspension of services to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam until October 20.
Akasa Air has also changed its schedules, suspending flights to Riyadh until October 24 and Jeddah until October 21. The different dates mean passengers need to check the travel advisory from the airline they are on board rather than the general statement about Saudi flights.
Now, Air India passengers who will fly to or from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah are to treat their flights through October 20 as cancelled until the airline is notified. It is monitoring the situation and will assess the safe resumption of operations as it is needed, said the airline. Travellers need to keep their booking references with them before heading to the airport and follow the refund process communicated for their affected flights.
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