Five flights connecting Cochin International Airport with Riyadh and Jeddah were cancelled on Friday amid security concerns and operational disruptions in Saudi Arabia, affecting both arriving and departing passengers.
The cancellations included Akasa Air flight QP 524 and Air India Express flight IX 522, which were scheduled to arrive in Kochi from Riyadh at 7.40am and 11.35pm, respectively, according to a report by Times of India – Kochi.
Three departure services from Kochi were also cancelled. These were Air India Express flight IX 521 and Akasa Air flight QP 523 to Riyadh, along with Akasa Air flight QP 550 to Jeddah.
The disruption affects one of Kerala’s key international gateways, which handles regular passenger traffic between the state and Saudi Arabia. The cancellations may affect travellers heading to the Gulf for work, family visits, business and religious travel, although the airport has not provided details on the number of passengers impacted.
An airport spokesperson advised affected passengers to contact their respective airlines before travelling to the airport. Passengers were asked to obtain the latest flight status, information on rebooking options and details of alternative travel arrangements directly from the airlines.
The airport statement did not provide a timeline for the resumption of the cancelled services or indicate whether additional flights could be affected. Travellers with bookings on the Kochi–Riyadh and Kochi–Jeddah routes have been advised to check with their airlines before beginning their journey.
