Air India, Air India Express extend Saudi Arabia flight cancellations till October 24

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 17, 2026: Air India and Air India Express on Saturday extended the suspension of flights to and from Saudi Arabia until October 24, citing escalating geopolitical tensions in the region.

Earlier this week, IndiGo and Akasa Air had also announced extensions to the suspension 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 October 24, 2026,” Air India said in a post on X. The airline added that it was closely monitoring the situation and remained committed to offering passengers maximum flexibility during this period.

On Friday, Air India had announced cancellations of its Saudi Arabia flights until October 20, while Air India Express had earlier suspended its services to the country until October 17.

IndiGo on Thursday extended the cancellation of flights to Saudi Arabian cities until October 24.

Akasa Air also announced on Thursday that, in view of the prevailing security situation in the Middle East, it had extended the suspension of flights to and from Riyadh until October 24 and Jeddah until October 21.

Tensions in West Asia have escalated following reported attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeting civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including facilities at Riyadh airport.