Mounting regional hostilities and heightened security alarms have forced major Indian airlines to prolong the grounding of scheduled passenger services to Saudi Arabia. Domestic carriers IndiGo and Akasa Air confirmed that flight cancellations connecting several Indian hubs with key Saudi destinations will now extend until October 24. Airline executives noted that the decision was taken following an intensive operational assessment of the volatile environment in the region. Passengers across both networks are being alerted individually as carriers continuously track ongoing developments on the ground.
IndiGo Shuts Down Operations Across Four Destination Hubs
Low-cost carrier IndiGo has suspended its full flight schedule serving four prominent urban centers in the Kingdom. Flights connecting India with Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah will remain non-operational through the entire closure window. The airline officially noted:
"Following a careful assessment of the evolving situation in Saudi Arabia, flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah stand cancelled until 24 October 2026 inclusive."IndiGo confirmed that passenger outreach is currently underway using the contact phone numbers and email addresses registered during reservations. Officials have not committed to an operational timeline for resuming service beyond the October 24 deadline.
Akasa Air Extends Grounding on Riyadh and Jeddah Corridors
Budget carrier Akasa Air has likewise prolonged its flight suspensions on its two Gulf corridors into late October. All flights operating into and out of the capital city of Riyadh remain cancelled through October 24. On the Jeddah corridor, Akasa Air confirmed that its suspension of flights will stay in effect until October 21. Company representatives stated that operational teams are reviewing security changes in real time as fresh events unfold across the area.
Ticket Flexibility and Full Refunds Offered to Stranded Travelers
Recognizing the disruption caused to international schedules, Akasa Air has laid out customer support measures for all impacted ticket holders. Passengers can choose between a full financial reimbursement or a fee-free rescheduling of their tickets. Travelers who opt for refunds will receive the full ticket sum credited back to their original payment mode within seven days. Alternatively, flyers can adjust their journey dates to an alternate schedule without incurring penalty fees or modification charges, mitigating the hardship caused by the security crisis.
Escalating Hostilities and Previous Flight Halts
The prolonged flight cancellations stem directly from escalating hostilities involving Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi group. The regional confrontation has involved strikes featuring armed drones and missile attacks in recent days. Airlines initially paused flights to Riyadh following reported strikes directed at the capital's international airport. Earlier on Tuesday, a broader group of carriers comprising IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, and Akasa Air had announced route cancellations through October 17. The current extensions keep flight operations disrupted well into the second half of October.
