Air India suspends flights to and from Saudi Arabia till November 14, citing security risks

Air India and Air India Express on Friday announced the extension of flight suspensions to and from three major Saudi Arabian cities until November 14, citing the prevailing security situation in West Asia amid continued attacks on aviation and other critical infrastructure.

The Tata Group-owned airlines said services connecting Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam would remain suspended through November 14, inclusive. The latest announcement extended restrictions imposed earlier this month as geopolitical tensions intensified across the region, affecting international flight operations and leaving passengers facing uncertainty over their travel plans.

The two carriers had previously suspended services to Riyadh and Dammam until November 7, while flights to Jeddah were cancelled until October 31. The latest advisory brings all three destinations under a common suspension period.

𝗔𝗶𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀

Air India said passengers holding confirmed bookings issued on or before October 30 for travel scheduled up to November 14 would be eligible for a one-time complimentary rebooking. The revised journey must be completed by November 29, subject to seat availability.

Affected passengers can alternatively cancel their bookings and receive a full refund. The airlines have introduced separate arrangements for passengers seeking alternative destinations within the region.

Air India passengers can rebook their journeys to or from any operational Air India station in Saudi Arabia. Air India Express passengers have the additional option of rebooking through Bahrain, besides operational destinations served by the airline in Saudi Arabia.

The airlines said their customer service teams and city booking offices would assist passengers with revised travel arrangements and refund requests. Air India passengers can contact +91 11 69329333 or +91 11 69329999, while Air India Express customers can seek assistance at +91 124 6935600.

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗚𝗼, 𝗔𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮 𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

The disruption has affected several Indian carriers operating flights to Saudi Arabia. IndiGo has suspended services to and from Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until November 14, while Akasa Air has extended cancellations on its Riyadh route until November 30 and Jeddah services until November 10.

The staggered suspension periods reflect continuing uncertainty over the security environment and the ability of airlines to resume scheduled operations safely.

Passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia have been advised to verify their flight status before leaving for airports and contact their respective airlines for information on alternative arrangements.

𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

The flight cancellations come against the backdrop of escalating hostilities in West Asia, where attacks on civilian airports and other infrastructure have disrupted aviation operations.

Saudi Arabia has witnessed repeated attacks involving missiles and drones, including strikes affecting airport facilities. The security concerns have prompted several international airlines to suspend or restrict services to the country.

The disruptions have been particularly severe at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. Aviation data showed that thousands of scheduled flights had been cancelled during October as airlines responded to the deteriorating security situation.

The interruptions have also affected passengers travelling for employment, business and religious purposes, including Umrah pilgrims. Indian diplomatic missions have been assisting affected nationals, including those facing difficulties with accommodation and onward travel.

𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Airlines have maintained that decisions on restoring services will depend on developments in the region and assessments of operational safety.

The latest extension indicates that normal flight connectivity between India and major Saudi Arabian destinations is unlikely to resume immediately, with several routes remaining suspended well into November.

For affected passengers, the immediate options are to seek refunds or use the complimentary rebooking facilities within the prescribed deadlines. Airlines are expected to issue further advisories as the security situation evolves.