Air India and Air India Express on Saturday announced the extension of flight cancellations to Saudi Arabia until October 24 due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the region. Earlier this week, IndiGo and Akasa Air had also announced the cancellation of their services to Saudi Arabian cities.
“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,” Air India said in a post on X, and mentioned that it was committed to providing as much flexibility as possible during this period.
The airlines said that passengers holding confirmed Air India or Air India Express bookings issued on or before the 15th of October, with travel dates between 9 and 25 October, are eligible for a one-time complimentary date change on their respective airline up to the 10th of November.
#TravelAdvisory
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.
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. Guests choosing the latter option are required to make their own travel arrangements to get to their preferred alternative point of departure and meet the applicable visa and entry requirements. Air India guests may rebook to or from Dubai or Doha. Air India Express guests may rebook to or from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Salalah or Sharjah. Guests whose flights have been cancelled may also opt for a full refund if they choose not to travel.
Our teams are available through our contact centres (AI Contact Centre: +91 1169329333 / +91 1169329999, AIX Contact Centre: +91 124 6935600) and city booking offices in GCC stations and India to assist with rebooking and refund requests.
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.
— Air India (@airindia) October 17, 2026
It said that passengers 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 Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region served by their respective airline, subject to availability.
The flight operator informed that passengers whose flights have been cancelled may also opt for a full refund if they choose not to travel. The airlines have advised affected passengers to contact their respective customer care centres or visit booking offices in India and Gulf countries for assistance with rebooking and refunds.
The airlines said they are closely monitoring the situation and they will keep passengers informed of further developments.
