October 23, 2026 — IndiGo has pushed its Saudi Arabia suspension out another week. Riyadh flights are now off through October 31, and Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah are off through October 27, following Wednesday’s deadly attack at Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport.
What happened
In an advisory reported by ANI on the morning of October 23, IndiGo (6E) said it was extending the cancellations “following a careful assessment” of the security situation in Saudi Arabia. As recently as October 22, regional reporting showed IndiGo’s Saudi flights cancelled only through October 24.
- Riyadh: cancelled through October 31, 2026 (inclusive)
- Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah: cancelled through October 27, 2026 (inclusive)
- Restart dates after those windows: TBA
The trigger was an attack at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on the evening of Wednesday, October 21. Saudi authorities reported two people killed, one of them an Indian national, and eight injured. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation says the airport is operating again and air traffic is back to normal while damage is assessed.
IndiGo says it is contacting affected customers using the details given at booking and asks travelers to check flight status on its website before heading to the airport. The advisory as reported does not spell out refund or rebooking terms (TBA).
Other carriers to Saudi Arabia
Indian low-cost rival Akasa Air has extended its Riyadh and Jeddah suspension through October 27. Gulf News’s October 22 roundup showed many other airlines still cutting back service to the kingdom. These dates may since have changed:
| Airline | Status reported October 22 |
|---|---|
| Air India / Air India Express | Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam suspended through Oct 24 |
| Qatar Airways | Riyadh and Dammam suspended through Oct 24; Jeddah cut from seven to four daily |
| Etihad | Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah cancelled through Oct 24 |
| Emirates | Medina operating; Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam cancelled (end date not given) |
| KLM | Riyadh and Dammam cancelled through Oct 31 |
| Lufthansa Group | Riyadh suspended through Nov 18; Dammam through Nov 30 |
| British Airways | Limited Riyadh service (one daily) resumes Nov 3 |
| Cathay Pacific | Riyadh suspended through Jan 31, 2027 |
| Delta | Atlanta–Riyadh launch postponed to March 2027 |
What it means for non-revs
- Don’t plan pass travel to Saudi Arabia on IndiGo before November 1 (Riyadh) or October 28 (Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah). Even after those dates, a restart is not confirmed; this is the second extension in days.
- Seats will be tight on whatever is still flying. With so many carriers cut back at once, the remaining flights (for example, Emirates to Medina, or Qatar’s reduced Jeddah schedule) are likely to fill with rebooked passengers, and standby will be hard.
- Check before you go. Suspension dates are moving day to day. Check the operating carrier’s status page and your loads on the day of travel, and have a way home that doesn’t depend on a Saudi connection.
- Crew and staff based in the region: watch your company’s security notices for the latest on layovers and positioning.
Sources
- ANI — IndiGo cancels Riyadh flights until October 31, 3 other Saudi routes until October 27 amid evolving security situation
- Gulf News — UAE flight status today: Cancellations, delays and updates after Saudi airport attack
Get NonRev Travel News by email
A weekly recap newsletter, sent out every Sunday, with the airline, airport, cruise and travel-warning news that matters to airline employees and retirees. Free.
Subscribe free
