Air India Cancels Saudi Arabia Flights Until October 20

Air India has pushed the suspension of its Saudi Arabia flights to October 20, 2026, the latest in a wave of cancellations by Indian carriers as Yemen's Houthis keep targeting civilian airports in the kingdom. The move, announced in a travel advisory on Friday, October 16, extends an earlier halt that was due to end on October 17. (For background on how this began, read our earlier report on Air India's suspension of Riyadh flights after the first Houthi airport strikes.)

An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (file photo). The airline has cancelled all its flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah until October 20, 2026. Photo: Anna Zvereva / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Air India cancels Saudi Arabia flights: what the advisory says

In a post on X, Air India said all its flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah stand cancelled until October 20, 2026. The airline wrote: "In view of the evolving situation in Saudi Arabia, all Air India flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah stand cancelled until 20 October 2026," adding that it is "closely monitoring developments and continuously assessing the situation to ensure the safe resumption of operations."

For travelers, there's one bit of good news in the notice. "Passengers affected by these cancellations are being offered a full refund," the airline said, reiterating that "the safety and security of our passengers and crew remain the highest priority."

Earlier this week, on Tuesday, Air India and Air India Express had cancelled their Saudi Arabia services only until October 17. Friday's advisory pushes that deadline out by three more days. Air India Express has separately extended its suspension of flights to Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh until October 20, giving affected passengers a choice between complimentary rescheduling and a full refund.

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh (file photo). The airport has come under repeated attack this month, the Saudi-led coalition says. Photo: liton islam / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.

IndiGo and Akasa Air push cancellations further

Air India isn't acting alone. On Thursday, October 15, IndiGo announced it was extending its cancellation of flights to Saudi Arabia till October 24 — covering Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah. The same day, Akasa Air said that in view of the prevailing security situation in the Middle East, it had extended the suspension of all its flights to and from Riyadh until October 24 and Jeddah until October 21. Akasa is offering full refunds or complimentary rescheduling to affected passengers.

Because the suspension periods differ by airline, travelers can't assume a single resume date. Anyone booked on an India–Saudi Arabia flight should check the latest advisory from their own carrier rather than going by another airline's timetable.

Why the flights are being cancelled: the Houthi airport attacks

The cancellations are a direct response to an escalating campaign of drone and missile attacks on Saudi civilian infrastructure by Yemen's Houthis, who have repeatedly struck airports in recent days. The Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen said at a press conference on Thursday that Houthi attacks on Abha airport, in the country's southwest near the Yemeni border, had killed three people and wounded 28.

The coalition also said the Houthis had launched 20 attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh this month, killing 17 people and wounding 333 others, according to a Reuters report cited by Indian media. These are the coalition's own figures, and they cover all attacks on the airport in October — not a single incident.

The toll from the October 10 attack on the Riyadh airport has meanwhile risen to 13, after the Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed that an Indian national injured in the incident had died. In a video message to the Indian community, Ambassador Vipul said one Indian national was killed and 11 others were injured in the attack. The coalition has separately continued intercepting projectiles over the kingdom — see our coverage of the Saudi coalition's interception of a second drone over the Eastern Province.

The Houthis have issued a broad warning to international airlines, foreign workers and commercial travelers to avoid Saudi aviation hubs, declaring Saudi airspace unsafe — with, they claim, an explicit exception for the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council condemned the attacks on civilian airports, aircraft and aviation infrastructure in the strongest terms on Thursday, expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia's government and people.

An IndiGo Airbus A320neo (file photo). IndiGo has extended its Saudi Arabia flight cancellations until October 24. Photo: Timothy A. Gonsalves / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What passengers can do right now

If you're booked on an affected flight, the airlines say you don't have to lose money. Air India is offering full refunds. Air India Express and Akasa Air are offering full refunds or free rescheduling. Contact your airline directly — through its website, app or helpline — to process the claim. With different airlines resuming on different dates, rebooking on the same carrier may still leave you waiting, so a refund and a fresh booking later could be the simpler route.

For Indians currently in Saudi Arabia who need to leave urgently, the Indian embassy has said they may consider flights from neighboring countries — Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar — though they will be responsible for obtaining the necessary visas to enter those countries. That's an option of last resort, not a recommendation for casual travel.

Terminal 1 of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah (file photo). Jeddah services are among those suspended by Indian carriers. Photo: Skytrax / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Why it matters

This isn't just a travel inconvenience — it's a marker of how the Houthi–Saudi conflict is spilling into civilian life across the region. When three major Indian carriers suspend services to one of the world's busiest aviation markets for up to nine days, it hits migrant workers, business travelers and pilgrimage traffic between India and Saudi Arabia hard. The Indian embassy's guidance about leaving via Bahrain, Kuwait or Qatar shows how seriously New Delhi is taking the security situation. And the ICAO's rare condemnation signals that the global aviation community views strikes on civilian airports as a red line.

What happens next

Airlines will reassess closer to October 20. If attacks continue, expect the suspensions to roll further — IndiGo has already committed to October 24, and past weeks suggest extensions come in small increments as the security picture develops. Watch for any statement from Saudi authorities on airspace restrictions, any change in the Houthis' threats, and whether other international carriers follow the Indian airlines' lead. A single calm week could bring services back; another airport strike would almost certainly extend the shutdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Until when has Air India cancelled its Saudi Arabia flights?

Air India has cancelled all its flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah until October 20, 2026. The announcement came in a travel advisory posted on X on Friday, October 16, 2026, extending an earlier cancellation that was set to end on October 17.

Will I get a refund for my cancelled Air India flight?

Yes. Air India says all passengers affected by the Saudi Arabia cancellations are being offered a full refund. Contact the airline through its website, app or helpline to process it. Akasa Air and Air India Express are offering either full refunds or complimentary rescheduling.

Which other airlines have suspended flights to Saudi Arabia?

IndiGo has extended its cancellation of flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until October 24. Akasa Air has suspended Riyadh flights until October 24 and Jeddah flights until October 21. Air India Express has cancelled services to Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh until October 20.

Why are airlines cancelling flights to Saudi Arabia?

Yemen's Houthis have escalated drone and missile attacks on Saudi civilian infrastructure, including repeated strikes on airports. The Saudi-led coalition says a recent attack on Abha airport killed 3 people and wounded 28, and that 20 attacks targeted Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport this month.

What should Indians in Saudi Arabia do if they need to leave urgently?

The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia has said nationals requiring urgent departure may consider flights from neighboring countries — Bahrain, Kuwait or Qatar. However, travelers are responsible for obtaining the necessary visas to enter those countries, and the embassy says it remains in touch with hospitals and families to provide all possible help.

Has the ICAO commented on the airport attacks?

Yes. The ICAO Council issued a statement on Thursday strongly condemning the attacks on civilian airports, aircraft and aviation infrastructure in Saudi Arabia in the strongest terms, expressing solidarity with the country's government and people and conveying its deepest condolences to the victims' families.

Could the cancellations be extended further?

Yes — extensions are likely if the attacks continue. Airlines have been rolling the suspension dates forward in small increments as the security situation develops, and IndiGo has already committed to October 24. Travelers should check their airline's latest travel advisory before making any new bookings.

Sources

• Livemint — Air India cancels Saudi Arabia flights till Oct 20 after Indian national killed in Houthi attacks (October 16, 2026)
• The Hindu BusinessLine — Air India extends cancellation of Saudi Arabia flights till Oct 20 (October 16, 2026)
• The Statesman — Saudi airport attacks hit India flights hard: Air India cancels services till Oct 20, IndiGo till Oct 24
• Times Now — Air India cancels Saudi flights till October 20, offers full refunds (October 16, 2026)
• GlobalDeskNews — Air India Suspends Riyadh Flights After Houthi Airport Strikes (earlier report)
• GlobalDeskNews — Saudi Coalition Intercepts Second Drone Over Eastern Province

Byline: GlobalDeskNews Staff | October 16, 2026