Riyadh flight cancellations by Air India Express, IndiGo and Akasa Air are disrupting air connectivity between India and Saudi Arabia after attacks on Saudi airports raised concerns over the safety of civilian air travel. Several international airlines have also suspended or reduced services, while affected passengers are being offered refunds or complimentary rescheduling.
Air India Express has cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until October 10, according to a statement cited by Economic Times. The airline said the decision followed the evolving security situation in the region and that affected guests could reschedule their journeys at no additional cost or receive a full refund on cancellation.
IndiGo has cancelled its Delhi-Riyadh service on Thursday and Friday, along with flights between Mumbai and Riyadh and Hyderabad and Riyadh on Friday. Akasa Air has cancelled its Kochi-Riyadh and Riyadh-Kochi services on Thursday, citing the changing security conditions in Riyadh.
The disruptions extend beyond Indian carriers. Philippine Airlines cancelled its Manila-Riyadh service on October 8 and the return flight scheduled for October 10. KLM, Air France and Cathay Pacific are also among the airlines reported to have cut services or extended existing suspensions.
Air India is separately reported to have turned back a Delhi-Riyadh flight while it was en route, following attacks affecting Saudi airports. The reported cancellations and suspension decisions reflect the operational difficulties airlines face when security conditions change around major civilian aviation hubs.
Riyadh is a significant international connection point for Indian carriers and serves a large Indian expatriate population. The route also supports business travel and religious traffic, meaning disruptions can affect more than scheduled holiday travel. Passengers travelling from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kochi are among those directly affected by the listed cancellations.
Akasa Air said it was monitoring and assessing the situation in real time. The airline said passengers affected by the cancellations could choose a full refund or reschedule their travel without an additional charge. Air India Express also said it was continuing to monitor developments closely.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned attacks on Abha and King Khalid airports, describing the targeting of civilian infrastructure as completely unacceptable and expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia. The ministry’s response places the flight disruptions within a wider concern over the protection of airports and other civilian facilities during the escalating regional security situation.
The airlines’ current measures are scheduled to remain in place through October 10 for the affected Air India Express services, while other carriers are reviewing individual flights. Passengers have been advised through their airlines’ rebooking and refund channels as carriers continue monitoring the situation.
