Air India cancels flights to 3 Saudi cities until October 20 amid regional tensions

Air India has extended the cancellation of all flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia until October 20, 2026. The airline stated this decision was made in response to the evolving situation in the country. Passengers affected by the cancellations are being offered full refunds. Air India emphasized that the safety and security of its passengers and crew remain its top priority. The extension comes three days after Air India initially announced that flights to and from the three Saudi cities would remain cancelled until October 17. This marks the second extension of the suspension, which had previously been set for October 15. The airline noted that it is continuously monitoring developments in the region to determine when safe operations can resume. In addition to Air India, several other Indian airlines have also extended their flight suspensions to Saudi Arabia. IndiGo has extended its cancellation of flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah until October 24. Air India Express has similarly extended its suspension of flights to and from the three main Saudi cities until October 20. Akasa Air has suspended flights to and from Riyadh until October 24 and Jeddah until October 21. These decisions reflect ongoing concerns over regional security and disruptions to air travel in Saudi Arabia. The latest extension comes amid continued aviation disruptions following a series of attacks on airports in the kingdom. According to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, more than 4,000 flights departing Saudi Arabia were cancelled or grounded between October 8 and October 15. Approximately 46 per cent of the 8,883 scheduled departures during that period did not operate. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was particularly affected, with 298 of its 366 scheduled departures impacted on October 15, representing over 81 per cent of its schedule. Other major airports such as Dammam and Jeddah also experienced significant disruptions, with numerous flights cancelled or delayed. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh had previously advised Indian nationals to remain in contact with their airlines and verify flight schedules before traveling. This advisory came after Air India and Air India Express initially suspended flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah until October 17. Other Indian carriers, including Akasa Air and IndiGo, had also announced temporary suspensions affecting Saudi routes. Beyond Indian airlines, global carriers have also taken steps to suspend or delay flights to Saudi Arabia and neighboring regions. Air France-KLM has extended its suspension of flights to and from Riyadh until the end of October. Cathay Pacific has postponed the resumption of its Hong Kong-Dubai and Hong Kong-Riyadh routes until January 31, 2027. Delta Air Lines has delayed the launch of its planned flights from Atlanta to Riyadh until March 2027, while Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam. Etihad Airways has cancelled all flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, along with 10 flights to Dammam and Jeddah, until October 19. Gulf Air, Bahrain's flag carrier, has cancelled flights to and from Riyadh from October 12 to 17. Lufthansa Group has cancelled all flights to Riyadh until October 16, while Philippine Airlines has extended the suspension of its flights to and from the Saudi capital until November 29. These actions highlight the broader impact of regional instability on international air travel. As airlines continue to monitor the situation, passengers are urged to check their flight statuses and stay informed about potential changes to their travel plans. Refund policies vary by airline, with some offering full refunds or the option to reschedule flights without additional charges.