Air India Cancels All Saudi Flights Until October 24 Following Severe Houthi Threats

In a major development concerning international aviation and regional security, Air India and Air India Express have taken strict and precautionary measures regarding their operations to and from Saudi Arabia. In view of the current security situation and severe threats, Air India and Air India Express have extended the temporary suspension of flights to and from Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam until October 24, 2026. This major decision has been prompted by direct threats and recent violent attacks issued by Houthi rebels, creating significant concern within the global aviation sector.

The airlines have prioritized passenger safety above all else, keeping in mind the continuous threats and serious security concerns originating from Houthi factions. According to the official guidelines issued by the airlines, passengers who booked their tickets on or before October 15 and whose travel dates fall between October 9 and October 25 are permitted to change their travel dates once for free up until November 10. On top of that, passengers can also opt for re-booking their travel from other cities within the GCC region, subject to seat availability.

Air India clarified the situation in an official statement, stating, 'In view of the current situation, Air India and Air India Express have temporarily suspended flights to and from Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam up to October 24, 2026. ' This stance by the airline aims to relieve passengers from financial and mental distress during these uncertain times.

To ensure passenger convenience, Air India and Air India Express have provided clear alternatives for travel arrangements. Impacted passengers of Air India can re-book flights operating to and from Dubai or Doha. On the other hand, passengers of Air India Express can choose to re-book flights connecting through Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Salalah, or Sharjah. However, the airlines have explicitly stated that passengers opting to travel from alternative cities must make their own travel arrangements to reach those cities. Plus, such passengers must strictly comply with the relevant visa and entry regulations of those destinations. Passengers whose flights have been cancelled and who wish to abandon travel altogether are eligible for a full refund.

The background behind this stringent and sudden decision by Air India stems from highly dangerous and tense circumstances in the region, while this crisis originated following an attack on October 10 at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which has resulted in the death toll rising to 13. This cowardly and lethal attack has raised serious questions regarding security benchmarks across the entire Gulf region. Confirming the gravity of the situation, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh has verified that one Indian national was among those injured in the violent incident and unfortunately succumbed to injuries during treatment, while this tragic death has put both the Indian government and airline management on high alert.

This wave of tension and violence isn't restricted to Riyadh alone, as alarming reports have also emerged from Yemen. Yemen's Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani informed the media that amid escalating tensions and war-like conditions, the internationally recognized government of Yemen made serious accusations against the Houthi militia on Friday. According to the government, Houthi rebels targeted Aden International Airport with two missiles. These missiles were fired while a Yemenia Airlines aircraft, fully prepared for a flight to Cairo, was stationed nearby, and the missiles landed dangerously close to the plane, narrowly averting a major aviation disaster.

The aggression of the Houthi rebels doesn't stop there, as they've issued an open and dangerous threat on the international front. The Houthis issued a stern warning to international airlines, foreign workers, and business travelers, advising them not to use any aviation hubs or airports in Saudi Arabia, while On top of that, the Houthi rebels have officially declared the entire airspace of Saudi Arabia unsafe, excluding the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Following these statements and threats, aviation security agencies have been put on high alert, leading major international carriers like Air India to suspend their flights to Saudi Arabia until October 24 to ensure the absolute safety of passengers.