Representative image. Afpwong, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Why it matters
About 2.74 million Indians live in Saudi Arabia, and Umrah pilgrims also use these routes, so the extension keeps three Saudi routes closed for one to two more weeks. Passengers with tickets in the window must choose between a free date change and a refund, and the rebooking rules differ slightly between Air India and Air India Express.
Air India Saudi flights to Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam will stay grounded until 14 November 2026. Air India and its low-cost arm Air India Express announced the extension on Friday, 30 October, saying flights to and from the three Saudi cities “will remain suspended until 14 November 2026 (inclusive)”, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported. Until Friday, Riyadh and Dammam were off until 7 November and Jeddah only until 31 October.
Passengers holding tickets for those dates can move their trip once for free, up to 29 November, or cancel for a full refund. The airlines gave the “prevailing situation in the region” as the reason, Siasat reported.
What the Air India Saudi flights extension changes
The move pushes all three routes to one common date. Jeddah, the airport nearest Makkah, gains the most: its restart date moves back by 14 days, from 31 October to 14 November. Riyadh and Dammam move by 7 days, from 7 November to 14 November. These are NewsPlainly’s counts from the dates the airlines announced.
It is the latest in a run of extensions. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said on 13 October that both airlines had suspended the three routes until 17 October, Khaleej Times reported. The date was then pushed to 20 October, to 24 October and, on 24 October, split into two dates for different cities. Counting from 13 October, the routes will have been shut for at least 33 days by 14 November. The reports read did not say on which date the suspension first began, so the true figure may be higher.
| Reported on | New end date | Reported by |
|---|---|---|
| 13 October | 17 October (all three cities) | Indian Embassy, via Khaleej Times |
| 16 October | 20 October | Khaleej Times |
| 17 October | 24 October | Free Press Journal |
| 24 October | Riyadh and Dammam 7 November; Jeddah 31 October | PTI, Siasat |
| 30 October | 14 November (all three cities) | PTI, Siasat |
Why flights to Saudi Arabia are suspended
In the statements reported by PTI and Siasat, the airlines gave no reason beyond the situation in the region. The background is a series of drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have struck civilian sites in the kingdom, including airports, PTI has reported. An Indian national was killed in an attack on Riyadh airport on 10 October, and another Indian was among two people killed when Dammam airport was attacked on 21 October, according to the Indian Embassy and Saudi aviation authorities.
About 2.74 million Indians live in Saudi Arabia, the embassy said on 23 October. Umrah pilgrims have also been caught up: the Indian consulate in Jeddah has been helping those whose return was delayed, Siasat reported. The embassy has asked Indians in the kingdom to follow Saudi rules, including a ban on filming missile interceptions, as NewsPlainly reported.
Rebooking and refund rules for Air India and Air India Express
The terms are the same for both airlines, with one difference in where passengers can rebook, according to PTI and Siasat:
- Who qualifies: passengers with confirmed bookings issued on or before 30 October 2026 for travel up to 14 November 2026.
- Free change: one rebooking without a fee, subject to seat availability, for travel up to 29 November 2026. That gives a window of 15 days after the routes are due to reopen.
- Refund: passengers who do not want to travel can cancel and get a full refund.
- Other cities: Air India passengers can rebook to or from any Air India station in Saudi Arabia that is still operating. Air India Express passengers can choose any of its operating stations in Saudi Arabia or in Bahrain.
- Helplines: Air India on +91 11 69329333 or +91 11 69329999, and Air India Express on +91 124 6935600, Siasat reported. City booking offices can also help.
The reports read did not list which Air India stations in Saudi Arabia are still running, so passengers will need to check that with the airline before choosing a new route. The terms as PTI reported them apply to bookings issued on or before 30 October; the reports did not say what applies to tickets issued later.
What IndiGo and Akasa Air have done
The other Indian airlines that fly to Saudi Arabia have also cut services. IndiGo has cancelled flights to and from Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until 14 November, PTI reported on 30 October. Akasa Air has cancelled its Riyadh flights until 30 November and its Jeddah flights until 10 November, according to the same reports.
| Airline | Cities | Suspended until |
|---|---|---|
| Air India | Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam | 14 November |
| Air India Express | Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam | 14 November |
| IndiGo | Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah | 14 November |
| Akasa Air | Riyadh | 30 November |
| Akasa Air | Jeddah | 10 November |
The 30 October PTI report did not give IndiGo’s current date for Riyadh, which IndiGo had earlier cancelled until 31 October. Travellers on that route should check IndiGo’s own advisory.
What happens after 14 November
The airline statements reported by PTI and Siasat did not say what would allow flights to restart. So far every end date has been pushed back before flights resumed, so 14 November is the current plan rather than a fixed reopening. For people stuck in Saudi Arabia, the Consulate General of India in Jeddah said on 24 October that it was running 24-hour control rooms in Jeddah and Makkah and helping with visa, delayed departure and refund problems, Siasat reported. It also pointed Umrah pilgrims with accommodation problems to Saudi Arabia’s Pilgrim Care Centre on 1966.
Frequently asked questions
When will Air India restart flights to Saudi Arabia?
Air India and Air India Express say flights to and from Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam stay suspended until 14 November 2026, inclusive. The date has been extended several times since mid-October.
Can I get a refund for my Air India Saudi flight?
Yes. Passengers with confirmed bookings issued on or before 30 October for travel up to 14 November can cancel for a full refund, or rebook once free of charge for travel up to 29 November, subject to seats.
Are IndiGo flights to Saudi Arabia running?
IndiGo has cancelled flights to and from Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until 14 November, PTI reported on 30 October. Check IndiGo's advisory for Riyadh.
Why are flights to Saudi Arabia suspended?
The airlines cited the prevailing situation in the region. Saudi Arabia has faced drone and missile attacks, including on airports in Riyadh and Dammam, in October 2026.