If you or someone in your family was hoping to fly home from Riyadh in the next couple of weeks, the wait just got longer. India’s biggest airlines have once again pushed back the restart of their Saudi Arabia flights, and for some routes the new date is now in November.
On Saturday, October 24, Air India and Air India Express said flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam will stay suspended until November 7, while Jeddah services stay off until October 31. IndiGo has cancelled all its Saudi flights until at least October 31, and Akasa Air has pulled Riyadh until November 30. The airlines point to the security situation in the region, where Saudi airports and infrastructure have faced repeated drone and missile strikes.
Quick Facts
- Who: Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and Akasa Air
- What: Longer suspension of flights to Saudi Arabia
- When: Announced October 23–24, 2026
- Where: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah routes
- Longest halt: Akasa Air’s Riyadh flights, off until November 30
- Refunds: Air India group offers a full refund or one free rebooking for tickets issued on or before October 24
Saudi Flights Suspended: New Dates Airline by Airline
The dates differ by airline and by city, which is exactly why so many passengers are confused. Here is where things stand, based on the latest advisories reported by PTI and The New Indian Express:
- Air India and Air India Express: Riyadh and Dammam suspended until November 7. Jeddah suspended until October 31. Both had earlier cancelled Saudi services until October 24.
- IndiGo: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah all cancelled until October 31 (inclusive). On Friday it had kept Riyadh off until October 31 and the other three until October 27, then stretched those three on Saturday.
- Akasa Air: Jeddah suspended until November 10 and Riyadh until November 30, according to a travel update issued on Friday.
IndiGo said the extension came “following a careful assessment” and that it was working with the relevant authorities. Air India simply cited “the prevailing situation in the region.”
Air India Refund and Free Rebooking Rules
In a joint advisory posted on X, Air India and Air India Express said guests with confirmed bookings issued on or before October 24, 2026 can choose flexible rebooking or a full refund on cancellation.
The fine print matters, so here it is in plain terms:
- Riyadh or Dammam ticket, travel date up to November 7: one free rebooking, and the new trip must be completed by November 21.
- Jeddah ticket, travel date up to October 31: one free rebooking for travel until November 14.
- Air India: you can switch to any Air India station in Saudi Arabia that is still operating, subject to seats.
- Air India Express: a wider choice, including any operating Air India Express station in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain or India, subject to seats.
So a worker in Dammam booked on a November 3 flight to Kochi could, for example, ask Air India Express to move the ticket to a route via Bahrain, as long as the new journey is done by November 21 and seats are free.
IndiGo has said it informs affected customers through the phone number and email given at booking. Earlier reports said travellers who booked through agents or travel portals should contact those partners directly.
Why Indian Airlines Keep Extending the Saudi Ban
This is not a one-off delay. Indian carriers first halted Saudi flights in mid-October and have extended the pause several times since, moving from October 17 to October 20, then October 24, and now into November.
PTI reported that Saudi airports, energy facilities and other key infrastructure have been hit by escalating drone and missile strikes, part of a long-running campaign it attributes to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis. Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport was attacked on October 10, and Khaleej Times reported that one Indian national was killed and several others were injured.
The disruption has gone well beyond Indian airlines. Gulf News, citing aviation data firm Cirium, reported that 2,018 of 6,608 scheduled departures from Saudi Arabia between October 8 and 13 did not operate.
Help for Stranded Indians and Umrah Pilgrims
Saudi Arabia is home to a very large Indian community, so these routes matter to thousands of working families back home, as well as to Umrah pilgrims.
The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has issued an advisory saying it is running round-the-clock control rooms in Jeddah and Makkah. With help from Indian community groups and volunteers, it is arranging food, essential medicines and other immediate relief for stranded travellers.
The mission said it is in regular touch with Indian airlines about refunds and is connecting Indian Umrah tour operators with airlines that are still flying to India. It also cautioned that alternative travel depends on seat availability, fares and each airline’s rules.
Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh had advised nationals to stay calm, stay indoors during aerial attacks and follow local instructions. Khaleej Times reported the embassy also said Indians who overstayed their visas because of the flight disruption could exit without paying fines.
What We Don’t Know Yet
- Whether flights will actually restart on the new dates or be pushed back again.
- How many Indian passengers have been affected in total. No airline or official figure has been shared.
- Whether IndiGo and Akasa will offer the same free-rebooking windows as the Air India group.
What This Means for You
- Check your ticket date first. Your options depend on which city you fly to and whether your booking was issued on or before October 24.
- Keep your contact details updated with the airline so cancellation messages reach you.
- Booked via an agent? Ask the agent to process the refund or rebooking, since the airline may route it back to them.
- Stuck in Saudi Arabia? Contact the Indian Embassy in Riyadh or the Consulate General of India in Jeddah for help.
- Be careful with “guaranteed seat” offers from unknown agents on WhatsApp or social media. Book only through airlines or trusted agents.
Our Take
Putting safety first is the right call, but rolling extensions of a few days at a time leave families unable to plan. A clear refund-or-rebook policy from every airline, not just the Air India group, would ease a lot of stress for workers and pilgrims who have little room to absorb surprise costs.
FAQs
Are Air India flights to Saudi Arabia cancelled?
Yes. Air India and Air India Express have suspended Riyadh and Dammam flights until November 7 and Jeddah flights until October 31, 2026.
When will IndiGo resume flights to Saudi Arabia?
IndiGo has cancelled flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until October 31, 2026 (inclusive). It has not confirmed a restart date beyond that.
Can I get a refund for my cancelled Saudi flight?
Air India and Air India Express offer a full refund or one free rebooking for tickets issued on or before October 24. For other airlines, check the advisory sent to your registered phone or email.
How long is Akasa Air’s Riyadh suspension?
Akasa Air has suspended Riyadh flights until November 30 and Jeddah flights until November 10, per its Friday travel update.
Why are flights to Saudi Arabia suspended?
Airlines cite the security situation in the region. Saudi airports and infrastructure have faced drone and missile strikes that reports attribute to Yemen’s Houthis.
Based on reporting by PTI (via ETV Bharat), The New Indian Express, Gulf News and Khaleej Times.
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