Air India, IndiGo, Air India Express and Akasa Air prolong Saudi flight suspensions into next week.
Dubai: Indian airlines have extended flight cancellations to several destinations in Saudi Arabia as ongoing security concerns continue to affect regional aviation. Air India, IndiGo, Air India Express and Akasa Air have announced prolonged suspensions involving major Saudi cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
Air India has suspended all services to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah through October 20, while IndiGo has extended its cancellations covering Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until October 24.
Air India Express has also prolonged its flight suspension to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam through October 20.
Meanwhile, Akasa Air has cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until October 24 and Jeddah until October 21.
The carriers said they are closely monitoring developments and will continue to prioritise the safety of passengers and crew when making operational decisions.
Air India: Saudi flights cancelled until October 20
Air India confirmed that all flights connecting India with Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah will remain cancelled through October 20 because of the changing security situation in Saudi Arabia.
The airline said it is regularly reviewing conditions to assess when flights can safely resume.
Passengers affected by the cancellations are eligible for a full refund.
“At Air India, the safety and security of our passengers and crew remain the highest priority,” the airline said.
IndiGo: Four Saudi destinations affected until October 24
IndiGo has announced an extended suspension covering a broader network of Saudi destinations.
The airline confirmed that flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah will remain cancelled through October 24, including that date.
Affected passengers are being informed through the mobile numbers and email addresses provided during booking.
Customers who reserved their tickets through travel agencies or other booking partners have been advised to contact those providers directly for assistance.
Air India Express: Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam suspensions extended
Air India Express has extended the cancellation of its services to and from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam through October 20.
The airline said it would continue to closely track the evolving situation and make necessary adjustments to its flight schedules based on operational and safety assessments.
Passengers affected by the cancellations can opt for complimentary flight rescheduling or receive a full refund if they choose to cancel their bookings.
Air India Express has also urged travellers to verify their flight status through its official website and ensure their registered contact information is updated to receive timely notifications.
Akasa Air: Riyadh and Jeddah flights suspended
Akasa Air has extended the cancellation of flights to and from Riyadh through October 24, while its Jeddah services will remain suspended until October 21.
The airline said the decision was taken following a review of the current security conditions across the Middle East.
Affected passengers have been offered two options: a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another available flight.
Akasa Air said refunds would be processed to the original payment method within seven days, while passengers choosing to reschedule would not incur additional charges.
Travellers who booked their tickets through travel agents or third-party booking platforms have been advised to contact those providers directly for assistance.
Saudi Arabia flight disruptions: More than 2,000 departures affected
The latest cancellation extensions follow widespread disruption across Saudi Arabia’s aviation network, with thousands of scheduled flights affected in recent days.
According to aviation analytics company Cirium, Saudi Arabia recorded 6,608 scheduled departures between October 8 and 13, of which 2,018 did not operate.
This represents approximately 30.5 per cent of all scheduled departures during the six-day period.
The figures also reveal considerable day-to-day variations in flight operations.
October 11 was particularly disruptive, with 623 of 1,096 scheduled departures failing to operate, equivalent to around 56.8 per cent of the day’s planned flights.
On October 10, another 442 flights out of 1,186 scheduled departures were affected.
Saudi-based airlines also experienced substantial operational disruptions during the reporting period.
Saudia recorded 646 cancelled or non-operating departures out of 1,546 scheduled flights, while flynas reported 327 affected departures out of 817 scheduled services.
The figures highlight the continuing pressure on Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector as airlines review flight schedules in response to the regional security situation.
