Both Air India and Air India Express have pushed back the resumption of services connecting to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, with the new target date now set for Saturday, 24 October, rather than the previous date of Tuesday, 20 October, as tensions in the broader region continue to influence operations.
Rebooking arrangements and refund options for affected travellers were set out by the airlines through a post on X on Saturday, 17 October. Those holding reservations secured no later than Wednesday, 15 October, with travel dates falling anywhere between Friday, 9 October, and Sunday, 25 October, may reschedule once at no additional charge. Tuesday, 10 November 2026 stands as the outer boundary for any adjusted departure date.
Those wishing to fly out of a different Gulf Cooperation Council airport have the option to change their booking, subject to seat availability. Travellers booked on Air India have two Gulf hubs at their disposal — Dubai and Doha — whereas those flying with Air India Express gain access to a broader network spanning Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Salalah, and Sharjah.
Passengers opting for a different airport are responsible for making their own way there and for satisfying whatever visa or entry conditions apply to them. Those whose journeys were disrupted by a cancelled flight retain the option of claiming a complete refund rather than proceeding with travel.
Those seeking help with rebooking or refund requests through Air India have two contact numbers available: +91 1169329333 and +91 1169329999. Those seeking assistance from Air India Express have a dedicated phone line available at +91 124 6935600.
Flight operations on the impacted routes remain grounded for IndiGo, with the halt now stretching through to Saturday, 24 October. Akasa Air has also put services to both Saudi destinations on hold, with the Riyadh route paused through that same date and the Jeddah connection remaining grounded until Wednesday, 21 October.
Reports of drone and missile strikes on airports serving Riyadh and Abha surfaced as hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi group — which is Yemen-based and aligned with Iran — continued to intensify. Aviation analytics provider Cirium recorded upwards of 4,000 outbound flights from Saudi Arabia taken out of service across the period spanning Thursday, 8 October, through to the following Thursday. Roughly 4,100 of the 8,883 flights scheduled for that window never departed — a cancellation rate of around 46 per cent.
