Air India Express suspends Saudi flights till Oct 17 amid Houthi strikes
Synopsis
Air India Express, IndiGo, and Akasa Air have all suspended Saudi Arabia flights following Houthi drone and missile strikes that forced Riyadh's airport to shut. With Air India Express extending its ban to 17 October and no clear end to the regional escalation, thousands of Indian travellers on the Gulf corridor face mounting disruption — and the suspension window could widen.
Key Takeaways
Air India Express suspended flights to Dammam , Jeddah , and Riyadh until 17 October 2026 on Tuesday, 13 October .
The suspension follows drone and missile strikes by Houthi rebels on Saudi airport infrastructure, prompting Riyadh airport to close.
Affected passengers are being offered complimentary rescheduling or a full refund.
IndiGo extended cancellations to Riyadh and Dammam until 15 October ; Akasa Air also cancelled Saudi services.
Air India had earlier extended its Riyadh suspension until 15 October following the initial wave of strikes.
Airlines are monitoring the situation on a rolling basis; further extensions remain possible.
Air India Express on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, suspended all flights to and from Dammam, Jeddah, and Riyadh until 17 October, citing the rapidly evolving security situation in the region following drone and missile strikes on Saudi airport infrastructure. The airline said affected passengers are being offered complimentary rescheduling or a full refund.
What Air India Express Said
'In view of the evolving situation in the region, we have cancelled flights to and from Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh until 17 October. Affected guests are being offered complimentary rescheduling or a full refund on cancellation. We continue to monitor the situation closely,' an Air India Express spokesperson said in an official statement.
The carrier added that it would take further operational decisions only after assessing the ground situation more closely.
The Security Context: Houthi Strikes on Saudi Airports
The flight suspensions follow repeated drone and missile strikes on Riyadh's main airport, attributed to Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. Saudi authorities have kept Riyadh airport shut for the time being in the wake of the strikes and subsequent security threats. The attacks are part of a broader escalation linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the United States.
Earlier this week, Air India — the full-service parent brand — had also extended the suspension of its flights to and from Riyadh until 15 October following the initial wave of strikes, indicating the disruption is widening across Indian carriers operating Gulf routes.
Other Indian Airlines Also Halt Saudi Flights
The suspension by Air India Express is not an isolated move. Multiple Indian carriers have pulled back from Saudi Arabia amid the heightened threat environment. IndiGo has extended cancellations on its Riyadh and Dammam routes until 15 October. Akasa Air has similarly cancelled services to affected Saudi destinations. This marks a coordinated, industry-wide precautionary response rather than a single airline's decision.
Notably, this is the second wave of escalation disrupting Indian aviation's Gulf operations in this period — a corridor that serves a large diaspora of Indian workers, particularly from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
Impact on Passengers and What to Do
Passengers holding bookings on affected routes until 17 October are eligible for complimentary rescheduling to a later date or a full fare refund. Travellers are advised to check directly with their respective airline for updated schedules before heading to the airport, as cancellations may be extended depending on how the security situation develops.
With tensions in the region showing no immediate sign of de-escalation, airlines are expected to reassess their Saudi operations on a rolling basis beyond 17 October.
Point of View
IndiGo, and Akasa Air are a sharp reminder of how quickly Gulf-region geopolitics translates into disruption for India's large working diaspora. The India–Saudi corridor is not a peripheral route — it connects hundreds of thousands of migrant workers whose livelihoods depend on reliable air access. What's being underreported is the human cost to those stranded or unable to travel for work; the airline refund policy addresses the fare, but not the lost wages or delayed travel. If the Houthi strikes persist beyond 17 October, pressure will mount on the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of External Affairs to coordinate evacuation or repatriation logistics, as was done during earlier Gulf crises.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Air India Express cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia?
Air India Express suspended flights to Dammam, Jeddah, and Riyadh until 17 October 2026 due to the escalating security situation following drone and missile strikes by Houthi rebels on Saudi airport infrastructure. Saudi authorities have closed Riyadh airport in response to the ongoing threat.
Which Indian airlines have suspended Saudi Arabia flights?
Air India Express, Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air have all suspended or cancelled flights to various Saudi destinations. IndiGo has extended cancellations on Riyadh and Dammam routes until 15 October, while Air India Express has suspended services until 17 October.
What options are available to passengers with cancelled bookings?
Passengers affected by Air India Express cancellations are being offered complimentary rescheduling to a later date or a full refund. Travellers should contact their airline directly to rebook or claim a refund.
Who is behind the attacks that prompted the airport closures?
The strikes on Saudi airport infrastructure have been attributed to Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are aligned with Iran. The attacks are part of a broader regional escalation involving Iran and the United States.
Could the flight suspensions be extended beyond 17 October?
That is possible. Air India Express has stated it is closely monitoring developments before making further operational decisions. If the security situation in Saudi Arabia does not improve, further extensions to the suspension window are expected.
