Flying to Saudi Arabia? Air India cancels all flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah until October 20; flyers to get a full refund | Today’s news
India’s national carrier Air India has canceled all its flights to and from Saudi Arabia until October 20 amid repeated Houthi attacks on the country’s airports in the Middle East.
In a travel advisory issued on Friday on X, the airline said all Air India flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah are canceled until October 20, 2026.
“Due to the evolving situation in Saudi Arabia, all Air India flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah are canceled till October 20, 2026,” Air India said on X.
The airline added: “We are closely monitoring developments and continuously assessing the situation to ensure a safe resumption of operations.”
Will flyers get a full refund?
Air India also informed that passengers affected by these cancellations are being offered full refunds.
“At Air India, the safety and security of our passengers and crew remains the highest priority,” Air India’s X post read.
Which other airline has announced cancellations?
Air India’s latest extension follows earlier flight suspensions announced by Indian carriers IndiGo and Akasa Air amid escalating security concerns in the Middle East.
IndiGo on Thursday announced the extension of flight cancellations to Saudi Arabia till October 24.
Akasa Air said on Thursday that it has extended the suspension of all flights to and from Riyadh until October 24 and Jeddah until October 21 in view of the prevailing security situation in the Middle East.
Why are flights to Saudi Arabia cancelled?
The flight cancellations come amid drone and missile attacks on civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia by Yemen’s Houthis.
Riyadh Airport has also been the target of multiple attacks as tensions have escalated in recent days. The flight disruptions come amid reports of attacks on Saudi aviation infrastructure and heightened security concerns affecting air travel in the region.
CCTV footage of the attack on the Abha International Airport emerged on Thursday. The clip showed people reacting to the attack on Abha International Airport in Abha, Asir Province, Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen said at a press conference on Thursday that Houthi attacks on Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia, near the Yemeni border, killed three people and wounded 28.
The coalition reportedly said the Houthis carried out 20 attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport this month, killing 17 people and injuring 333, Reuters reported.
The airport, one of Saudi Arabia’s main international aviation hubs, was among the civilian infrastructure targeted by the coalition in a series of attacks.
One Indian killed
Meanwhile, the death toll in the October 10 attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport rose to 13 after the Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed the death of an Indian citizen who was injured in the incident.
In a video message to the Indian community shared on the official X handle of the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Vipul said that one Indian citizen was killed and 11 others were injured in the October 10 Riyadh airport attack.
“11 other Indians were also injured in the attack and we are again in touch with the hospital authorities as well as the families to provide all assistance,” he said.
Amid the military escalation, the Houthis issued a broad warning to international airlines, foreign workers and business travelers to avoid Saudi air hubs. The group declared Saudi airspace unsafe, with the express exception of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has previously strongly condemned the attacks on civilian airports, aircraft and aviation infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and expressed solidarity with the government and people of that country.
