Air India extends Saudi flight suspensions until November 14

Air India and Air India Express have extended the suspension of their flights to three Saudi Arabian cities until November 14, 2026. News Karnataka, Business Standard, NDTV, NDTV Profit, The Times of India, and The Tribune all reported the move. Citing security risks and regional tensions, the airlines are offering affected passengers full refunds or free rebooking. [1][2][6][7][8][10]

The daily flight cancellations affect services connecting Indian hubs to three key destinations in Saudi Arabia. The Daily Pioneer reported that the suspended routes include flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. [9]

The flight curbs follow recent violence targeting aviation infrastructure in the region. In October 2026, Houthis in Yemen launched ballistic missile and drone attacks on three airports in Saudi Arabia, which killed 22 people and injured more than 380 others. It marks the deadliest series of attacks in the country since May 2015. [11]

Operations in the country were severely disrupted earlier in the month, as FTMQ Travel reported earlier. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh suspended flight operations following an attack on October 10, 2026, which killed at least 12 people and prompted governments to issue urgent travel warnings. [13]

Travelers with existing bookings during the suspension period can request full refunds or alter their itineraries without extra fees. Passengers should verify their flight status directly with the airlines before heading to the airport. [1][7]