Key Highlights

  • Longer pause: Air India and Air India Express have suspended flights to and from Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam until November 14, citing the prevailing situation in the region.
  • Free rebooking or full refund: Passengers with confirmed bookings issued on or before October 30, 2026, for travel up to November 14, can rebook once free of charge for travel up to November 29, subject to seat availability, or cancel for a full refund.
  • Rebooking options differ by airline: Air India allows rebooking to any operational Air India destination in Saudi Arabia, while Air India Express allows any operational station in Saudi Arabia or Bahrain.
  • Security backdrop: One Indian was killed and two were injured in the attack on Dammam airport, and another Indian was injured in the attack on the Shaybah oil field.
  • Pilgrims returning: Hundreds of stranded Umrah pilgrims have come back over the past month, and over 10,000 regular Umrah pilgrims have also returned to India.

New Delhi: Indian travellers heading to Saudi Arabia face more uncertainty. Air India and Air India Express have suspended flights to and from Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam until November 14, citing the prevailing situation in the region.

This is the latest in a series of rolling extensions. The carriers had earlier suspended flights to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam until October 20, then on October 24 extended the cancellation of flights connecting Riyadh and Dammam till November 7, while services to Jeddah were to remain suspended till October 31. The new date brings all three cities under one suspension until mid-November. 

What Passengers Need to Know

Both airlines are offering a one-time complimentary rebooking or a full refund on cancellation. Passengers holding confirmed bookings issued on or before October 30, 2026, for travel scheduled up to November 14, can reschedule their journeys for travel up to November 29, subject to seat availability.

Air India customers can rebook travel to or from any operational Air India destination in Saudi Arabia. Air India Express customers can rebook to or from any operational Air India Express station in Saudi Arabia or Bahrain. For rebooking and refund requests, passengers can contact the airlines’ customer service teams, visit their city booking offices, or call the call centres listed on the official websites.

Security Concerns and Stranded Pilgrims

The suspension comes amid continued attacks on civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including on airports in Riyadh and Dammam. One Indian was killed and two others were injured in the attack on Dammam airport, and another Indian national was injured in the attack on the Shaybah oil field. The Dammam incident followed a deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport on October 10, in which 13 people, including an Indian national, were killed. Saudi authorities have not publicly identified those responsible for the Dammam airport attack.

The disruption has hit Umrah pilgrims especially hard. Earlier this month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian Embassy and Consulate in Saudi Arabia were working with airlines and tour operators to help stranded Indian pilgrims return early. Hundreds of stranded Umrah pilgrims have returned to India over the past month, and over 10,000 regular Umrah pilgrims have also travelled back.

Each new extension has pushed resumption back by one to two weeks, so travellers should treat November 14 as a review date, not a firm restart. Saudi Arabia is home to a large Indian workforce and is a key Umrah destination, so the impact goes beyond tourism and touches families, jobs and religious travel. Passengers with upcoming bookings should check airline updates regularly and use the free rebooking window to November 29 rather than wait until the last minute.