Air India extends Saudi Arabia flight suspensions to October 24

Air India and Air India Express have extended the temporary suspension of flights to and from Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam until October 24. The Times of India, Aviation Jeta, Latest news from Azerbaijan, AzerNews, and Telegraph India all reported the extension, which stems from ongoing Houthi rebel strikes in the region. The Hindustan Times reported that more than 15 airlines have suspended or canceled services in Saudi Arabia due to the attacks. [1][4][5][6][7][8]

Air India announced a travel waiver for affected passengers in a travel advisory. According to The Times of India, passengers holding tickets issued on or before October 15 for travel scheduled between October 9 and October 25 can change their travel date once without paying a fee, provided the new travel takes place by November 10. Gulf News also reported that refund options have been explained for passengers impacted by the flight halt. [1][2]

Air India is the flag carrier of India and operates a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The airline serves international destinations from its main hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport alongside secondary hubs at Kempegowda International Airport and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The Indian government issued a fresh advisory for its nationals located in Saudi Arabia amid the ongoing air travel disruptions, according to The Hindu. [3][9]

The latest cancellations follow earlier violence in the region. As FTMQ Travel reported earlier, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh suspended flight operations after an attack on October 10, 2026, killed at least 12 people and injured hundreds. [12]