‘Closely monitoring’: Air India extends cancellation of flights to Saudi Arabia till Oct 20

New Delhi: Amid escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Air India on Friday extended the cancellation of flights to Saudi Arabia till October 20. The step has been taken due to the attacks on the country by Houthis in recent times.

Issuing a statement, the airline said it was closely monitoring the situation. The airline also said it would refund the money to passengers impacted by the decision.

Air India shares message on X

“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. We are closely monitoring developments and continuously assessing the situation to ensure the safe resumption of operations,” the airline said in a statement.

It added, “Passengers affected by these cancellations are being offered a full refund. At Air India, the safety and security of our passengers and crew remain the highest priority. Air India and Air India Express had earlier cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia till October 17.

IndiGo, Akasa Air announce similar steps

Further announcing its decision to further extend the cancellation till October 24, IndiGo wrote on Thursday on social media, “Following a careful assessment of the evolving situation in Saudi Arabia, flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah stand cancelled until 24 October 2026 (inclusive). Timely notifications are being sent to affected customers using the contact details provided at the time of booking. Customers who have booked through travel partners are requested to contact them directly for assistance. The safety and well-being of our customers and crew remain our highest priority.”

Apart from these airlines, Akasa Air to shared a similar message on Thursday. “In view of the prevailing security situation in the Middle East, Akasa Air has extended the suspension of all flights to and from Riyadh until October 24, 2026, and Jeddah until October 21, 2026. This decision follows a careful assessment of the evolving situation, with safety remaining our primary consideration. We continue to closely monitor developments and assess the situation in real time”.

“Passengers affected by these cancellations may opt for a full refund, which will be credited to the original source of payment within seven days, or reschedule their travel at no additional cost. Passengers who have booked through travel partners are requested to contact them directly for assistance,” it added further.