Indian flyers heading to Saudi Arabia have had their plans shaken up again. Air India and Air India Express have extended the suspension of flights to Riyadh and Dammam till November 7, while services to Jeddah stay grounded till October 31. IndiGo and Akasa Air have announced their own extensions too, leaving thousands of passengers, including Umrah pilgrims, waiting for clarity on when normal schedules will return.
The fresh announcements came on Friday and Saturday, after an earlier suspension that ran till October 24. The message from every carrier is the same: do not head to the airport on an old booking without checking the latest status first.
What Air India has announced
Air India said in a post on X that flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam will remain suspended until November 7, 2026, while Jeddah services will remain suspended until October 31, 2026. The same timelines apply to Air India Express, its low cost arm.
Passengers with confirmed bookings issued on or before October 24 can choose flexible rebooking or a full refund if their booking is cancelled. That cut off date matters, so travellers should check the issue date on their ticket before calling the airline.
Air India has also offered a one time complimentary rebooking option. Passengers travelling to or from Riyadh and Dammam on dates up to November 7 can rebook to or from any operational Air India station in Saudi Arabia, subject to availability, for travel until November 21. For Jeddah, passengers with original travel dates up to October 31 can rebook in a similar way for travel until November 14.
Air India Express passengers are being offered expanded alternative routing through operational stations in Saudi Arabia or Bahrain, again subject to seat availability. In practice, that means some travellers may be able to reach a different Saudi city and continue their journey from there, rather than waiting for their original route to reopen.
IndiGo and Akasa Air follow with their own dates
IndiGo said on Saturday that flights to and from Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah will remain cancelled until October 31. A day earlier, the airline had announced that Riyadh services would stay cancelled until October 31, while Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah were suspended until October 27. The Saturday update brought all four cities in line at October 31.
Akasa Air went further on some routes. The airline said on Friday that it has extended the suspension of Jeddah flights until November 10 and Riyadh flights until November 30, the longest timeline announced by any Indian carrier so far.
Route by route: the dates that matter
- Air India and Air India Express, Riyadh and Dammam: suspended till November 7, 2026; complimentary rebooking for travel till November 21.
- Air India and Air India Express, Jeddah: suspended till October 31, 2026; complimentary rebooking for travel till November 14.
- IndiGo, Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah and Riyadh: cancelled till October 31, 2026.
- Akasa Air, Jeddah: suspended till November 10, 2026.
- Akasa Air, Riyadh: suspended till November 30, 2026.
- Refund and rebooking eligibility: Air India bookings issued on or before October 24 qualify for flexible rebooking or a full refund on cancellation.
Help for Umrah pilgrims and stranded passengers
The disruption has hit Umrah pilgrims particularly hard, with many travelling in groups and on tight schedules. The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has activated round the clock control rooms in Jeddah and Makkah to assist Indian nationals affected by the cancellations.
Working with community associations and volunteers, the consulate is helping arrange food, essential medicines and other immediate relief, and is connecting Umrah tour operators with carriers still operating flights to India.
What passengers should do now
If you hold a ticket to Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah or Madinah in the coming weeks, check the airline app for your specific flight first, keep your booking reference and ticket issue date handy, and ask about rebooking to an operational station before accepting a refund. Umrah pilgrims travelling with a tour operator should stay in close touch with the operator, which can often rebook a whole group faster than individual passengers can.
FAQs
Are all India to Saudi Arabia flights cancelled?
No. The suspensions cover specific airlines and cities, and the dates differ by carrier and route. Some services and alternative routings through operational stations remain available, so check your own airline and city.
Till when are Air India flights to Riyadh suspended?
Air India and Air India Express flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam are suspended until November 7, 2026, while Jeddah services are suspended until October 31, 2026.
Can I get a refund for a cancelled Saudi flight?
On Air India, passengers with confirmed bookings issued on or before October 24 can opt for flexible rebooking or a full refund on cancellation. IndiGo and Akasa Air passengers should check their own carrier’s advisory, as terms differ.
What help is available for Umrah pilgrims?
The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has round the clock control rooms in Jeddah and Makkah, and is working with community associations on food, medicines and alternative travel arrangements for affected pilgrims.
Will the dates change again?
Possibly. The airlines have already extended the suspensions once, from October 24 to the new dates, and they say they are assessing the situation continuously. Keep checking official airline advisories before travelling.
