Air India Suspends Riyadh Flights Until Oct 15 Over Houthi Attacks

Air India has extended its suspension of all Riyadh flights until 15 October after a surge of Houthi drone and missile strikes that forced the Saudi airport to shut—an action that has ripple effects across the region.

Saudi authorities reported fresh drone and missile threats on Monday, noting the detection of incoming aerial projectiles over Riyadh. The King Khalid International Airport remains closed, and the Saudi‑led coalition has intensified its counter‑measures.

Other Indian carriers have followed suit: IndiGo has cancelled all flights to Riyadh and Dammam till 15 October; Air India Express halted services to Dammam and Jeddah on 12 October and suspended Riyadh until 15 October; Akasa Air paused flights to Jeddah and Riyadh until 13 October.

Passengers face scrambling for alternative routes, with many rebooking through rival airlines. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has urged airlines to monitor the situation closely, and a resumption of services is expected only when security is restored at Riyadh airport.