Air India and Air India Express have suspended all flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam until November 30, and to and from Jeddah until November 21, citing the ongoing regional situation. The decision affects passengers travelling between India and three major Saudi Arabian destinations and comes after reported drone and missile threats targeting Saudi facilities.
The temporary halt applies to all services operated by both carriers connecting to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah, according to an official Air India statement shared on X and reported by the Economic Times. The airlines have offered affected passengers either a full refund after cancellation or a one-time free rescheduling, subject to seat availability.
The revised arrangements apply to customers holding confirmed tickets issued on or before November 10. For Riyadh and Dammam bookings, the affected travel period runs through November 30. For Jeddah bookings, the relevant travel period runs through November 21.
Air India passengers may reschedule their journeys to or from any active Air India destination within Saudi Arabia. Air India Express passengers may instead reschedule through any operational Air India Express hub in Saudi Arabia or Bahrain, according to the guidelines cited in the report.
Passengers affected by Riyadh and Dammam suspensions must complete their rescheduled travel by December 14, 2026. Those booked on Jeddah services will have until December 5, 2026, to complete their journeys. The airlines have directed customers seeking cancellations or rebookings to their city booking offices or dedicated support channels.
The suspension follows claims by Yemen’s Houthi militia that it launched a wave of drone and missile strikes against targets in Saudi Arabia. The claimed targets included Aramco facilities in Riyadh, Khamis Mushait Air Base and a military cargo aircraft at Sharurah Airport.
Saudi-led Coalition Forces reported that drones over Riyadh and the Eastern Region had been intercepted and destroyed. In announcements posted to Telegram, Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree claimed that a drone attack on Aramco in Riyadh had achieved its objective. The claim was reported by the Economic Times and was not independently established in the supplied material.
The flight changes make Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah temporarily unavailable on the two Indian carriers, while alternative routing remains limited to active destinations served by Air India, Air India Express and their operational hubs in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Passengers with eligible bookings must use the airlines’ rescheduling or refund procedures within the stated travel windows.
