Air India and Air India Express on Saturday extended the temporary suspension of flights to and from Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam in Saudi Arabia until October 24. This comes in response to the prevailing situation in West Asia following Houthi rebel strikes in the region.

In a travel advisory, Air India stated, "In view of the prevailing situation, Air India and Air India Express have temporarily suspended flights to and from Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam until 24 October 2026. We understand that these disruptions may affect our guests' travel plans and are committed to providing as much flexibility as possible during this period."

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Rescheduling And Refund Options: What Passengers Need To Know

To support affected travellers, Air India and Air India Express have introduced a one-time complimentary rescheduling facility. Passengers holding confirmed bookings issued on or before October 15 for travel scheduled between October 9 and October 25 can change their travel dates free of charge, provided the revised journey is completed by November 10.

Outlining the details, the airline announced, "Guests holding confirmed Air India or Air India Express bookings issued on or before 15 October 2026, with travel dates between 9 October and 25 October 2026, are eligible for a one-time complimentary date change on their respective airline up to 10 November 2026. Guests who do not wish to rebook on the originally preferred sector for a future date may, instead, choose to rebook from an alternative station in the GCC region served by their respective airline, subject to availability.

"Under this policy, passengers have the following choices:

  • Air India Customers: Can reschedule travel to or from Dubai or Doha.
  • Air India Express Customers: Can choose from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Salalah, or Sharjah.

Passengers choosing alternative stations must arrange their own transport to the new departure point and ensure they meet all applicable visa and entry requirements. Passengers who prefer not to reschedule their cancelled flights remain eligible for a full refund.

Reaffirming its commitment to passenger safety, Air India said, "We continue to closely monitor the situation and will keep guests informed of any further updates. Our priority remains to support affected guests, minimise inconvenience, and help them continue their journeys with suitable travel options."

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IndiGo And Akasa Air Update

  • IndiGo: Extended the cancellation of its flights to Saudi Arabian destinations until October 24.
  • Akasa Air: Announced an extension of its flight suspensions to and from Riyadh until October 24 and Jeddah until October 21, citing the prevailing situation in the Middle East.

(With Inputs From Agencies)