Air India Extends Cancellation of Flights to Saudi Arabia Until 20 October

Air India announced on 16 October 2026 that all its flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah remain cancelled until 20 October because of the evolving security situation in Saudi Arabia.

The airline posted the advisory on its official social media account. It said it is monitoring developments and will resume operations only when conditions allow safe flying. Passengers whose flights were cancelled will receive full refunds.

Air India Express, the carrier’s low-cost subsidiary, applied the same suspension. Earlier notices had set the cut-off at 17 October; the airline extended the period by three days.

Other carriers

IndiGo extended its own cancellations to Saudi Arabian destinations until 24 October. Akasa Air suspended Riyadh services until 24 October and Jeddah services until 21 October. The coordinated moves reflect shared concerns among Indian operators about the regional security environment.

The cancellations follow a series of incidents involving Houthi attacks on targets in Yemen and reports of threats or strikes affecting Saudi infrastructure and airspace. Indian authorities and carriers have treated the situation as fluid rather than settled.

Air India stated that the safety of passengers and crew remains the highest priority. It did not provide a revised schedule beyond the 20 October date and said continuous assessment would determine the exact resumption.

Thousands of Indian travellers use these routes for business, pilgrimage and family travel. The refunds process is expected to handle the immediate financial impact, while longer-term scheduling will depend on how quickly the security picture stabilises.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has not issued a separate formal ban; the suspensions remain carrier-initiated decisions based on operational risk assessments.