Akasa Air extends Saudi flight suspensions through November

Disruption overview

Passengers traveling between India and Saudi Arabia face continuing cancellations as Akasa Air, Air India, Air India Express, and IndiGo suspend services following attacks on Saudi airports and other infrastructure. Akasa Air's Jeddah suspension runs until 18 November 2026 and its Riyadh suspension until 30 November, while the other carriers' affected services remain suspended until 14 November. Indian consular officials are helping affected travelers, especially Umrah pilgrims, arrange alternatives, and some Saudi-operated flights to India are still running. Compensation is generally unlikely because the security incidents are outside airlines' control, but passengers should ask about refunds, rebooking, and applicable care and assistance.

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Disruption details

Akasa Air has extended its suspension of Jeddah flights until 18 November 2026, while services to and from Riyadh remain suspended until 30 November. As of 1 November, Air India, Air India Express, and IndiGo are also continuing suspensions between India and Saudi Arabia amid security concerns following attacks on airports and other infrastructure.

For passengers, including Umrah pilgrims, this means disrupted journeys and the need to arrange alternative travel. If you're booked on an affected route, check your airline's latest schedule before heading to the airport. The suspension dates differ by airline and destination.

The current suspensions include:

• Akasa Air flights to Jeddah are suspended until 18 November 2026.

• Akasa Air flights to and from Riyadh remain suspended until 30 November 2026.

• Air India and Air India Express services to and from Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam are suspended until 14 November 2026.

• IndiGo services to several Saudi destinations are suspended until 14 November 2026.

Air India and Air India Express announced their continued suspensions 2 days before the latest update. The different dates mean the disruption is set to continue in stages rather than end at the same time across all affected routes.

The suspensions follow attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. An attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on 21 October killed 1 Indian national and injured 2 others. Another Indian national was injured in an attack on Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oil field in the Eastern Province.

India has also condemned attacks on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for several attacks on Saudi airports and energy infrastructure.

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh has advised Indian nationals to remain calm and vigilant, stay indoors during aerial attacks, and follow instructions from local authorities. It's also asked people not to circulate videos or news related to the attacks.

Support is being coordinated for travelers whose plans have been interrupted. The Consulate General of India in Jeddah is working with airlines, local authorities, and community organizations to help affected Indian nationals, particularly Umrah pilgrims, and facilitate alternative travel arrangements.

Some flights between Saudi Arabia and India are still operating. Limited operations have resumed at Riyadh airport, including India-bound flynas services. Saudi carriers are also operating flights from Dammam, Jeddah, and Madinah.

If you're considering an alternative flight, check its current operating status before traveling. Some services are running, but that doesn't mean all routes or airlines have resumed operations.

Compensation is generally unlikely for these cancellations because the security incidents are outside the airlines' control. That doesn't mean you're without support: ask your airline about a refund or rebooking, along with any care and assistance available while you wait, such as meals or overnight accommodation. What you're entitled to will depend on your flight and the rules that apply to it.

If you're unsure which rights apply to your journey, AirHelp's free flight checker is a simple place to start.

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Information on this page is AI generated, but always checked by a (human) passenger right expert.