Air India Express, IndiGo and Akasa Air have cancelled or suspended several flights to Riyadh after attacks on Saudi Arabian airports disrupted operations and raised concerns over civilian aviation safety. The cancellations affect services from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kochi, with airlines offering passengers refunds or complimentary rescheduling.
Air India Express has cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until October 10, citing the evolving security situation in the region. The airline said affected passengers could choose complimentary rescheduling or a full refund on cancellation, while it continues to monitor developments.
IndiGo has cancelled its Delhi-Riyadh service on Thursday and Friday, along with its Mumbai-Riyadh and Hyderabad-Riyadh flights on Friday. Akasa Air has also cancelled its Kochi-Riyadh and Riyadh-Kochi services on Thursday, saying it was assessing the situation on a real-time basis.
The disruption has extended beyond Indian airlines. Philippine Airlines cancelled its Manila-Riyadh service on October 8 and the return flight scheduled for October 10. KLM, Air France and Cathay Pacific were also among international carriers reported to have cut services or extended existing suspensions.
Riyadh is a major international aviation hub and an important air link for India’s expatriate population, business travellers and passengers travelling for religious purposes. The cancellations therefore affect more than individual flight schedules: they interrupt one of the principal channels connecting Indian cities with Saudi Arabia while airlines assess whether operating conditions remain safe.
The Ministry of External Affairs condemned attacks on Abha and King Khalid airports, describing the targeting of civilian infrastructure as completely unacceptable and expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia. The ministry’s response places the flight cancellations within a wider disruption to civilian transport infrastructure rather than treating them as routine airline schedule changes.
Airlines have not announced a broader restoration timetable beyond the current suspension periods cited in their passenger advisories. Air India Express said it was continuing to monitor the situation, while Akasa Air said it was assessing conditions in real time. Passengers booked on affected routes are being directed towards the refund and rescheduling options offered by their respective carriers.
