October 30, 2026 — Air India and its low-cost arm Air India Express have pushed back their return to Saudi Arabia again. Flights to and from Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam will stay suspended through November 14, 2026, inclusive.
What happened
According to an Air India post on X reported by Urban Acres on October 30, both carriers extended the suspension to all three Saudi airports, citing “the prevailing situation in West Asia.” This is the latest in a string of extensions. The previous end dates were November 7 for Riyadh and Dammam and October 31 for Jeddah.
The move comes as airlines across the region keep shuffling their Saudi schedules. Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport partially reopened on October 25, with Terminal 1 (domestic) and Terminal 2 (international) operating, according to The National. Many foreign carriers are still staying away.
| Airport | Previous suspension end | New suspension end |
|---|---|---|
| Jeddah (JED) | October 31 | November 14 |
| Riyadh (RUH) | November 7 | November 14 |
| Dammam (DMM) | November 7 | November 14 |
Rebooking and refunds
- Applies to confirmed bookings issued on or before October 30, 2026 for travel up to November 14.
- Passengers get one free rebooking or a full refund.
- Rebooked travel must take place by November 29, subject to seat availability.
- Air India passengers can rebook to or from any operating Air India station in Saudi Arabia. Air India Express passengers can use any operating Air India Express station in Saudi Arabia or Bahrain.
Other Indian carriers
- IndiGo: Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah cancelled until November 14 (per Urban Acres).
- Akasa Air: Riyadh suspended until November 30 and Jeddah until November 10.
What it means for non-revs
- No Air India or Air India Express options to Saudi Arabia until at least November 15. If you were planning a trip to Jeddah, Riyadh or Dammam, look for another way or another date.
- Expect full flights once service resumes. Paying passengers can move their trips to any date through November 29, so the first two weeks after the restart are likely to fill up. Standby passengers board after all of them.
- More extensions are possible. Jeddah has now been extended from October 31 to November 14. Check the schedule again before you leave, not just when you plan.
- Gulf carriers are restarting first. Emirates and flydubai said they would begin returning to Saudi Arabia on October 30. If your airline has ZED or interline agreements with them, ask your pass bureau whether those flights are open to you, and check any travel advisories for the region before you go.
Sources
- Urban Acres — “Saudi Arabia Flight Cancellations Extend as West Asia Risk Grows” — urbanacres.in
- The National — “Saudi Arabia flight cancellations: Which airlines are suspending services and until when?” — thenationalnews.com
- House of Saud — “Emirates and flydubai Schedule Saudi Flights from October 30 as Etihad Stays Out” — houseofsaud.com
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