IndiGo Cancels Riyadh Flights Until October 31, and Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah Until October 27

IndiGo has canceled all its flights to and from Riyadh until October 31, 2026, and its Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah flights until October 27, both dates inclusive. The airline announced the new dates in a travel advisory posted on X on Friday, October 23, citing “the evolving security situation.”

It is the latest in a run of extensions, and this time Riyadh gets a later date than the other three cities. IndiGo’s previous advisory, posted on October 15, had canceled all four cities only until October 24.

What IndiGo said, and what passengers can do

IndiGo said it is notifying affected customers through the contact details they gave when booking, and it asks travelers to check their flight status on its website before leaving for the airport. The airline said it is monitoring developments and coordinating with the relevant authorities.

The October 23 advisory does not spell out refund or rebooking terms. Its October 15 version told customers who booked through a travel agent or other partner to contact that partner directly for help, which remains the practical route for those bookings.

IndiGo’s Saudi pause began with Riyadh alone. When Air India turned AI2243 back to Delhi on October 8, IndiGo had canceled Riyadh only until October 9.

By October 13 the cancellations covered Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until October 17, Gulf News reported. The October 15 advisory moved that to October 24, and Friday’s notice moves it again.

Where the other airlines stand

India’s other carriers have also stayed away, though their published end dates differ. The table shows the latest date each airline had announced as of Friday, October 23, and when it announced it.

Airline	Saudi cities	Status	Announced
IndiGo	Riyadh	Canceled until October 31	October 23
IndiGo	Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah	Canceled until October 27	October 23
Akasa Air	Riyadh, Jeddah	Suspended until October 27	October 18
Air India and Air India Express	Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam	Suspended until October 24	October 17
Biman Bangladesh	Dammam; Riyadh	Dammam resumed; one Riyadh flight scheduled for October 25	October 21

Akasa Air extended its Riyadh and Jeddah suspension to October 27 in an October 18 update, ANI reported. Passengers can take a refund to the original payment method, credited within seven days, or move to another date at no extra cost.

Air India and Air India Express suspended Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam until October 24 in a statement on October 17, ANI reported. AeroCorner found no newer Air India date at the time of writing, so the notice runs out on Saturday unless the airline extends it.

Passengers of both airlines with tickets issued on or before October 15 for travel between October 9 and 25 get one free date change, for travel up to November 10. They can instead fly from another Gulf city, Dubai or Doha on Air India and a wider list including Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah on Air India Express, or take a full refund.

Not everyone is waiting. Bangladesh’s flag carrier Biman resumed Dammam flights on October 21 and has scheduled one Dhaka-Riyadh departure for 1:25 a.m. Bangladesh time on October 25, bdnews24 reported. Biman said further Riyadh flights depend on the security situation.

Why the dates split now

The two dates follow the state of the airports. Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport remains heavily restricted after repeated attacks this month, which the US Mission in Saudi Arabia attributes to the Iran-backed Houthis.

Accounts of its status differ. AP reported on October 21 that the airport had reopened to limited traffic, with Saudia and flynas flights shown on FlightAware, after authorities told airlines they could resume with prior permission.

The US Mission’s security alert the same day said operations at King Khalid “remain suspended.” It said Jeddah’s and Dammam’s airports were operating with some delays and cancellations.

Open does not mean safe from attack, though. On the evening of October 21 an attack on Dammam’s King Fahd airport killed two people, a Saudi citizen and an Indian resident, and injured eight, according to Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority, which said operations then resumed.

For an airline, an open runway is only the first test. Each carrier runs its own risk assessment, and IndiGo’s wording, “a careful assessment,” makes clear that is what set the new dates.

Long-haul carriers have gone further. AP said Lufthansa and Air France had canceled flights through mid-November, and Lufthansa’s own notice keeps Riyadh off its schedule until November 18.

For travelers holding an IndiGo ticket to Saudi Arabia, the practical advice has not changed: treat each date as a ceiling that may move again, keep the contact details on the booking current, and check the flight’s status before setting off for the airport.