October 13, 2026 — IndiGo has cancelled every flight to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah through Saturday, October 17. Air India and Akasa Air have also stopped Saudi flying until the same date. That cuts a large part of the India–Saudi Arabia market for the rest of the week.
What happened
IndiGo announced the cancellations in a travel advisory on Tuesday, October 13, citing the security situation in Saudi Arabia. It said it is working with the relevant authorities and asked passengers to check their flight status online before going to the airport. Neither report said whether IndiGo refunds and rebookings are automatic. Passengers are pointed to IndiGo’s official support channels.
India’s embassy in Saudi Arabia shared the airlines’ notices. The cancellations follow the Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, which is under a NOTAM closure through 2100 GMT on October 17.
Indian airlines’ Saudi cancellations
| Airline | Cities | Through | Refund / rebooking |
|---|---|---|---|
| IndiGo (6E) | Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah | October 17 | Not stated; contact IndiGo support |
| Air India (AI) | Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah | October 17 | Full refund on cancellation |
| Akasa Air (QP) | Riyadh, Jeddah | October 17 (extended) | Full refund within seven days, or free reschedule |
Business Today also reports that Air India Express has suspended or cancelled some Saudi routes. No end date was given.
What it means for non-revs
- No India–Saudi standby options on IndiGo, Air India or Akasa through October 17. IndiGo’s cancellations cover Jeddah and Madinah as well as Riyadh and Dammam.
- Expect heavy rebooking once flights restart. Passengers from almost a week of cancelled flights will need seats, so loads on the first days back are likely to be full. Wait a few days after flights resume before listing.
- Gulf connections are also limited. Qatar Airways, Etihad and Gulf Air have cut parts of their Saudi schedules too (see our Saudia update). Connecting through the Gulf will not reliably get around the Indian airlines’ cancellations this week.
- Watch for another extension. These cancellation dates follow the Riyadh NOTAM. If the NOTAM is extended, the airline cancellations probably will be too.
Sources
- ANI — IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air cancel flights to and from cities in Saudi Arabia till Saturday amid escalating tensions
- Business Today — West Asia conflict: IndiGo cancels flights to Saudi Arabia till October 17. Check full list of affected cities
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