Air India extends Saudi flight suspension to 14 November as regional tensions continue
Air India and Air India Express have extended their suspension of flights to Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam until 14 November, offering affected passengers free rebooking to 29 November or a full refund.
Air India and Air India Express have extended the suspension of their flights to and from Saudi Arabia until 14 November 2026, prolonging disruption for passengers travelling between India and the kingdom as security concerns in the region continue.
The airlines announced the extension on Friday, 30 October, saying flights connecting Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam would remain suspended until 14 November inclusive, citing the prevailing situation in the region. The advisory was issued through the airlines' official channels and reported by multiple Indian outlets.
The new date pushes the suspension well beyond the previous limits. Last week the two airlines had cancelled services to Riyadh and Dammam until 7 November and flights to Jeddah until 31 October, so the latest announcement extends the Riyadh and Dammam halt by a week and the Jeddah halt by a fortnight.
Passengers with confirmed bookings issued on or before 30 October for travel up to 14 November are being offered a one-time complimentary rebooking, subject to availability, for travel up to 29 November. That option gives affected travellers a window of just over two weeks after the suspension ends to rearrange their journeys without paying a change fee.
Alternatively, passengers who cancel can opt for a full refund. Air India passengers may rebook to or from any operational Air India station in Saudi Arabia, while Air India Express passengers may rebook to or from any operational station of that airline in Saudi Arabia or Bahrain, according to the advisory.
Other Indian carriers have taken similar steps. IndiGo has cancelled flights to and from Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until 14 November, while Akasa Air has suspended services connecting Riyadh until 30 November and Jeddah until 10 November, underlining how broadly the disruption now reaches across India-Saudi routes.
The extensions come against a backdrop of escalating tensions in West Asia. Saudi airports and energy infrastructure have come under attack in recent days, including Houthi missile attacks intercepted over Riyadh, and a string of Gulf and international carriers have already suspended or extended cancellations on routes touching the region.
For travellers, the practical effect is that no Air India or Air India Express service will operate to Jeddah, Riyadh or Dammam for the next two weeks, and anyone with a booking in that period needs to act through the airline rather than wait at the airport. The airlines said their teams remain available through their contact centres and city booking offices to help with rebooking and refund requests.
Passengers are advised to check the latest advisory from their airline before travelling, since the situation in the region remains fluid and further changes cannot be ruled out. Any further extension, or an earlier resumption, would be announced by the airlines themselves, and travellers with flexible plans may prefer to wait for that confirmation before committing to new dates.
For now, the 14 November date is the one that counts: until then, India-Saudi travel on these two carriers remains suspended, with rebooking to 29 November or a full refund as the options on offer.
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