New Delhi, Oct 2026 : Air India and Air India Express have suspended flights to and from three Saudi Arabian cities — Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam — until November 14, citing the prevailing security situation in the region.
To minimise inconvenience to affected passengers, both airlines are offering a one-time complimentary rescheduling facility or a full refund on cancellation.
Passengers holding confirmed tickets issued on or before October 30, 2026, for travel scheduled up to November 14 can reschedule their journeys for travel until November 29, subject to seat availability.
Air India customers can rebook their tickets for travel to or from any operational Air India destination in Saudi Arabia. Similarly, Air India Express passengers can reschedule their journeys to or from any operational Air India Express station in Saudi Arabia or Bahrain.
The airlines have advised affected passengers to contact their respective customer service teams or visit city booking offices for assistance with rebooking and refund requests. Passengers can also reach the airlines through their call centres, using the contact details available on their official websites.
The suspension comes amid continuing attacks on civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including airports in Riyadh and Dammam. An Indian national was killed and two others were injured in an attack on Dammam airport. Another Indian citizen sustained injuries in an attack on the Shaybah oil field.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian Embassy and Consulate in Saudi Arabia were coordinating with airlines and tour operators to facilitate the early return of Indian pilgrims stranded in the country.
Hundreds of stranded Umrah pilgrims have returned to India from Saudi Arabia over the past month. In addition, more than 10,000 regular Umrah pilgrims have also travelled back to India during the period.
The airlines' latest announcement is aimed at providing passengers with greater flexibility in managing their travel plans amid the continuing regional situation.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
