NEW DELHI: Air India has cancelled all flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah until October 20, as the situation in Saudi Arabia continues to evolve. The airline said that it is monitoring developments and assessing the situation to ensure flights could resume safely.“In view of the evolving situation in Saudi Arabia, all Air India flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah stand cancelled until 20 October 2026. We are closely monitoring developments and continuously assessing the situation to ensure the safe resumption of operations.”Referring to refunds due to the cancellation, the aviation giant said, “Passengers affected by these cancellations are being offered a full refund. At Air India, the safety and security of our passengers and crew remain the highest priority.”The latest cancellations follow flight disruptions announced last week, when Air India, Akasa Air and IndiGo suspended or reduced flights to Riyadh after reports of explosions, including a loud blast at the city’s international airport.
How to get a refund for cancelled Air India flights
Passengers affected by the cancellations can request a refund by following these steps:
- Website or app bookings: Visit Air India’s Manage Booking section to request a refund.
- Travel agent or third-party website bookings: Contact the agent or website to initiate the refund.
- Ticketing office bookings: Visit the same Air India office where you purchased the ticket to request a refund.
- Checking refund status: For bookings made and cancelled through Air India’s website or app, visit the refund support portal and select ‘Status Check on Pending Refund’. For other bookings, contact the respective agent, website or ticketing office.
- Refund credit: The amount will be credited to the account used to pay for the booking. If that account is closed or invalid, provide your new bank details to an Air India agent at the ticketing office.
More carriers halt Saudi services
Several other international airlines have also changed their schedules amid the conflict.Air France-KLM has extended the suspension of flights to and from Riyadh until the end of October. Akasa Air has suspended services to and from Jeddah and Riyadh until October 17, while IndiGo has cancelled flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until the same date.Etihad Airways has cancelled all flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, along with 10 flights to Dammam and Jeddah, until October 19. Gulf Air has cancelled flights to and from Riyadh from October 12 to October 17, while Lufthansa Group airlines have cancelled all flights to Riyadh until October 16.Malaysia Airlines has cancelled flights to and from Jeddah and Madinah until October 17 as a precaution. Philippine Airlines has extended the suspension of its Riyadh flights until November 29, while Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam.Other airlines have pushed back their plans to resume services. Cathay Pacific has postponed the resumption of its Hong Kong-Dubai and Hong Kong-Riyadh routes until January 31, 2027. Delta Air Lines has delayed its planned flights from Atlanta to Riyadh until March 2027.
Air India sets up team to cut costs
Meanwhile, Air India has set up a team to find ways to reduce costs across the airline as it faces rising operating pressures. Its new CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, has asked employees to focus on spending carefully and taking responsibility for their work.In a message to staff on October 12, he said, “A multidisciplinary, cross-functional Cost Savings Team has been established on full-time basis to identify cost-saving opportunities across the organisation,”The team will review spending across departments and look for ways to save money, he said.“Ongoing airspace closures, the conflict in the Middle East and its resulting operational disruptions, and persistently high jet fuel costs continue to place significant pressure on airlines across the industry,” he said.Air India, jointly owned by the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, reported a consolidated loss of Rs 22,238.23 crore in the 2025-26 financial year.Meanwhile, the Middle East conflict has now continued for more than seven months, keeping airlines and oil markets on edge.
